• Andreas Goebel, David Andersson, Chris Barker, Neil Basu, Craig Bullock, Stuart Bevan, Rachael J M Bashford-Rogers, Ernest Choy, David Clauw, Debra Dulake, Richard Dulake, Herta Flor, Marcia Glanvill, Zsuzsanna Helyes, Sarosh Irani, Eva Kosek, Jennifer Laird, Gary MacFarlane, Hayley McCullough, Andrew Marshall, Robert Moots, Serge Perrot, Nick Shenker, Emanuele Sher, Claudia Sommer, Camilla I Svensson, Amanda Williams, Geoff Wood, and Emma R Dorris.
• Institute of Life Course and Medicine Sciences, Pain Research Institute, University of Liverpool, and Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
• Pain Med. 2022 May 30; 23 (6): 108410941084-1094.

BackgroundFibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is the most common chronic widespread pain condition in rheumatology. Until recently, no clear pathophysiological mechanism for fibromyalgia had been established, resulting in management challenges. Recent research has indicated that serum immunoglobulin Gs (IgGs) may play a role in FMS. We undertook a research prioritisation exercise to identify the most pertinent research approaches that may lead to clinically implementable outputs.MethodsResearch priority setting was conducted in five phases: situation analysis; design; expert group consultation; interim recommendations; consultation and revision. A dialogue model was used, and an international multi-stakeholder expert group was invited. Clinical, patient, industry, funder, and scientific expertise was represented throughout. Recommendation-consensus was determined via a voluntary closed eSurvey. Reporting guideline for priority setting of health research were employed to support implementation and maximise impact.ResultsArising from the expert group consultation (n = 29 participants), 39 interim recommendations were defined. A response rate of 81.5% was achieved in the consensus survey. Six recommendations were identified as high priority- and 15 as medium level priority. The recommendations range from aspects of fibromyalgia features that should be considered in future autoantibody research, to specific immunological investigations, suggestions for trial design in FMS, and therapeutic interventions that should be assessed in trials.ConclusionsBy applying the principles of strategic priority setting we directed research towards that which is implementable, thereby expediating the benefit to the FMS patient population. These recommendations are intended for patients, international professionals and grant-giving bodies concerned with research into causes and management of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Academy of Pain Medicine.

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