Potential of Vagus Nerve Stimulation to Modulate Fibromyalgia's Network Physiology: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: Background: Chronic pain conditions such as fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) reflect maladaptive network physiology across perceptual-autonomic-immune axes, yet most treatments remain symptomatic and incompletely effective. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic review to evaluate vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) and FMS within a network physiology framework. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched on October 24, 2025. Risk of bias was assessed using the ROB-2 tool. An iterative thematic synthesis was performed to develop an integrative conceptual framework and to identify knowledge gaps and future research directions. Results: We first summarize physiological evidence showing autonomic imbalance (e.g., decreased heart rate variability), neuroinflammatory

SUBMITTER: Perin JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12821727 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature