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Review
. 2025 May 10;13(5):1168.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines13051168.

Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Advances in Etiopathogenesis, Clinical Assessment and Treatment: A Narrative Review

Claudio Lavarello  1 , Silvana Ancona  2 , Clara Malattia  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome: Advances in Etiopathogenesis, Clinical Assessment and Treatment: A Narrative Review

Claudio Lavarello et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome (JPFS) is a complex, multifactorial condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, often accompanied by sleep disturbances, headaches, cognitive and mood disorders, and fatigue, resulting in a significant impact on the quality of life for affected children, adolescents, and their families. Although recent advances have improved the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and therapeutic approaches, its etiology and optimal treatments remain largely unknown. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the etiopathogenesis, clinical assessment, and treatment of JPFS. Our aim is to support clinicians in the diagnosis and management of JPFS patients, while also highlighting key areas that require further research to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes.

Keywords: central sensitization; chronic pain; cognitive-behavioral therapy; juvenile fibromyalgia; juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome; nociplastic pain; sleep disturbances.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagnostic algorithm for Juvenile Primary Fibromyalgia Syndrome. * Region 1 = left upper region (left shoulder girdle, upper and lower arm); region 2 = right upper region (right shoulder girdle, upper and lower arm); region 3 = left lower region = left hip, upper and lower leg; region 4 = right lower region (right hip, upper and lower leg); region 5 = axial region (neck, upper and lower back).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Symptom Severity (SS) Scale [72].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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