Central Sensitivity Syndrome (Part I)

The Central Sensitivity Syndrome (SSC) encompasses diseases that are difficult to diagnose, such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, and multiple chemical syndrome, among others.

How could I define the Central Sensitivity Syndrome (SSC)?

The SSC is a new nosological entity within modern medicine that encompasses a series of chronic processes with common characteristics. It was discovered by Dr. Yunus in 1994 and since then this name was coined.

What diseases does this definition encompass besides fibromyalgia?

Within the SSC we find processes such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular joint syndrome, migraine or tension headache, irritable bladder syndrome and multiple chemical syndrome.

Is it difficult to diagnose this syndrome?

Its diagnosis is difficult because these patients have different symptoms and they go to different doctors: the neurologist for the headache, the digestive one for the digestive symptoms and the internist or rheumatologist due to the muscular pains or the tiredness. Each doctor takes care of his specialty, without interfering in other symptoms, which makes the diagnosis difficult, since they do not see the whole picture that the patient presents. In the end, it ends with symptomatic treatment.

Today the diagnosis is made by the symptoms presented by the patient, supported by the physical examination characteristic of this process and by analytical studies of cellular sensitization to chemicals or food. Also as a research we are testing diagnostic techniques such as thermography, calorimetry or cell damage studies, which are proving that they can also be useful for the control of evolution. There are also imaging techniques where neuronal hyperexcitability can be revealed in certain stimuli, but it is only used for research.

What can cause this syndrome in the patient?

This syndrome occurs because dysregulation occurs at the level of the central nervous system, immunological and endocrine. The causes of this dysregulation are not known, but it is known that there is a hyperexcitability of the neurons of the central nervous system and a hypersensitivity of the immune system.. It is suspected that the onset of the picture may be related to stressful events, some types of allergy or hormonal changes. It is thought that the development of this process, which is increasingly seen, is related to the way of life and the lack of adaptation of some people to the environment. At present, we are more exposed to a multitude of stimuli than before: food, chemical substances, climate changes, electromagnetic fields, pollution ..., and there are people who have not been able to adapt to these changes.