Baby girls born to mothers burdened by stress may be at risk for fibromyalgia
News Desk
of such pregnancies may be at greater risk for developing a painful
muscle condition called fibromyalgia as adults. ...
Public release date: 22-Jun-2006
Contact:
Lisa Rossi
Ros...@upmc.edu
412-916-3315 (cell)
Jocelyn Uhl Duffy
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412-647-3555
412-325-6080 (June 20-22)
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Baby girls born to mothers burdened by stress may be at risk for
fibromyalgia
Experiences while in the womb can have long-term consequences
PITTSBURGH - Stressful or traumatic events experienced during
pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on the fetus, yet these effects
may not become apparent until many years later, according to a study
suggesting that girls born of such pregnancies may be at greater risk
for developing a painful muscle condition called fibromyalgia as
adults.
The study, presented at the 6th International Congress of
Neuroendocrinology (ICN 2006), shows how vulnerable a fetus is to
"prenatal programming." Indeed, animal studies presented at ICN 2006
indicate that a synthetic hormone commonly given to pregnant women at
risk for delivering early can permanently affect the newborn's
neuroendocrine system and may have even more profound effects on those
born in the next generation. ICN 2006 is being held at the David L.
Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh June 19 - 22.
Summaries of these studies' findings follow:
Stress during pregnancy may put baby girls at later risk for
fibromyalgia
New research suggests girls who were born following pregnancies that
were encumbered by stressful life events may be at greater risk for
developing fibromyalgia later in life. While little is known about the
causes of fibromyalgia, a condition affecting mostly women and
characterized by extreme fatigue and widespread muscle pain, the
studies led by Dirk Hellhammer, Ph.D., professor of psychobiology at
the University of Trier, Germany, indicate "prenatal programming"
likely plays a role. Stress experienced during pregnancy can affect the
development of the fetus's adrenal gland, permanently limiting its
capacity for producing adequate amounts of the hormone cortisol, he
reports.
Compared to 100 healthy female control subjects, significantly more
patients among the 93 women diagnosed with fibromyalgia reported their
mothers had experienced profound stress during pregnancy, such as the
loss of a partner, physical or emotional trauma or lack of social
support. Moreover, of these patients born of such pregnancies, only the
women had "blunted" cortisol response in a standardized measure of
psychological stress, an observation that supported findings in animal
studies. Furthermore, low cortisol levels were only observed in
patients with a history of prenatal stress. While more study is needed,
results collected so far provide strong evidence that girls may be at
added risk for developing fibromyalgia if, while in the womb, they were
exposed to higher than normal levels of cortisol produced by their
mothers in response to stress.
Effects of steroid drug during pregnancy can span generations
A synthetic hormone commonly given to pregnant women at risk for
delivering early not only can result in permanent changes to the
newborn's neuroendocrine system, but may have even greater effects on
those born in the next generation, indicate results from animal
studies.
Approximately 7 percent of pregnant women are treated with synthetic
glucocorticoid to help hasten lung development when pre-term birth
seems likely. Both animal and human clinical studies have shown the
treatment could have long-term effects on neuroendocrine function and
behavior. Using a guinea pig model, Stephen G. Matthews, Ph.D.,
professor, physiology, obstetrics & gynecology and medicine, University
of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine, has shown that late-pregnancy exposure
affects neurotransmitter systems - the brain's primary communications
vehicle - and makes fundamental changes to stress response
mechanisms. Moreover, exposure in the womb to these synthetic hormones,
which also have potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive
properties, can have life-long consequences. According to Dr. Matthews'
research, exposure affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
(HPA), which controls how the body responds to stress and is involved
in regulation of energy balance and the immune system as well. Now, in
more recent studies, his group is finding such effects extend to second
generation offspring, in whom changes to HPA function and behavior are
even greater than in those directly exposed. For instance, animals
whose grandmothers were treated with glucocorticoids exhibit reduced
levels of stress hormones and modified activity.
###
Held in a different part of the world every four years under the
auspices of the International Neuroendocrine Federation, this year's
congress - Bridging Neuroscience and Endocrinology - is being
sponsored by the American Neuroendocrine Society and the University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine. The first full day of the program, June
20, is being held in conjunction with the 10th Annual Meeting of the
Society for Behavioral Neuroendocrinology.
Formerly the International Society of Neuroendocrinology, the
International Neuroendocrine Federation consists of six member
societies and seven regional groups, representing all parts of the
world. The federation's president is John A. Russell, MBChB, Ph.D.,
chair of neuroendocrinology, University of Edinburgh. The chair of the
ICN 2006 scientific program is Iain J. Clarke, Ph.D., professorial
fellow in the department of physiology at Monash University in
Australia. Tony Plant, Ph.D., professor of cell biology and physiology
and director of the Center for Research in Reproductive Physiology,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is chair of the local
organizing committee.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
The researchers will discuss their work during a briefing, "Prenatal
Programming: Womb with a View," Thursday, June 22 at 10 a.m., that will
be moderated by Claire-Dominique Walker, Ph.D., associate professor of
psychiatry and anatomy & cell biology, McGill University, Montreal. All
briefings take place in rooms 306-307 of the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center, downtown Pittsburgh. Reporters may participate via
telephone conference call by dialing 800-860-2442 (from within the
U.S.) or 866-519-5086 (from Canada). From other countries, call
001-412-858-4600. To be connected to the briefing, you must reference
ICN 2006. More information about the meeting and the schedule of
briefings are available at http://newsbureau.upmc.com/ICN2006. The
press room hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, June 20 through
Thursday, June 22; Press room staff may be reached during this time at
(412) 325-6080. Otherwise, please call the UPMC News Bureau at (412)
647-3555 or Lisa Rossi at (412) 916-3315 (cell).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-06/uopm-bgb062106.php