Malate to detect and as a target for fibromyalgia

A method to distinguish pain resulting from fibromyalgia from other disorders, comprising:

• providing an amount of malate or fumarate in a physiological sample from a mammal having pain;
• and
• determining whether the amount of malate or fumarate in the sample is reduced relative to the amount of malate or fumarate in a corresponding mammal that does not have fibromyalgia, wherein decreased levels of malate or fumarate in the mammal having pain is indicative that the mammal has pain due to fibromyalgia,
• administering to the mammal having decreased malate or fumarate levels an amount of Lyrica, Cymbalta, gabapentin, savella, tramadol, cyclobenzaprine, duloxetine, milnacipran, amitriptyline, pregabalin, trazodone, meloxicam, gualfenesil, topamax, armodafinil, dresaryl, nabilone, prednisone, topiramate, escitalopram, naltrexone, venlafaxine, metaxalone, fluoxetine, sodium oxybate, atomoxetine, desvenlafaxine, Desyrel dividose, topiragen or metaxail so as to treat the fibromyalgia.

A method of monitoring fibromyalgia progression or severity in a mammal, comprising:

• providing an amount of malate in a physiological sample from a mammal having fibromyalgia overtime;
• and
• determining the amount of malate over time in the mammal having fibromyalgia, wherein a decrease over time is indicative of progression or of an increase in severity of fibromyalgia,
• administering to the mammal having decreased malate levels an amount of Lyrica, Cymbalta, gabapentin, savella, tramadol, cyclobenzaprine, duloxetine, milnacipran, amitriptyline, pregabalin, trazodone, meloxicam, gualfenesil, topamax, armodafinil, dresaryl, nabilone, prednisone, topiramate, escitalopram, naltrexone, venlafaxine, metaxalone, fluoxetine, sodium oxybate, atomoxetine, desvenlafaxine, Desyrel dividose, topiragen or metaxail so as to treat the fibromyalgia.