As detailed in a report published by Tang et al in Frontiers in Immunology, researchers conducted a two-step Mendelian randomization study using genomic data to determine whether there was a relationship between multisite chronic pain and several autoimmune diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, and psoriasis. The investigators determined that multisite chronic pain was associated with a higher risk of multiple sclerosis (odds ratio [OR] = 1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.01–2.49, P = .044] and rheumatoid arthritis (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.06–2.77, P = .028) but had no significant effect on any of the other autoimmune diseases studied. Additionally, according to the study authors, “the effect of multisite chronic pain on rheumatoid arthritis may be partially mediated by body mass index (BMI).” They concluded: “[O]ur results demonstrated genetic evidence of a potential causal relationship between multisite chronic pain and multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis in the European population, which may partially mediate through BMI. Further study is required to elucidate the pathophysiology of the causal relationship between multisite chronic pain and multiple sclerosis/rheumatoid arthritis.”
May 25, 2023