Monocyte expression levels of cytokines in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain syndrome in which tender points take a significant place in diagnosis and which is characterized by sleep disturbance, fatigue and widespread myogenic pain that lasts longer than three months. Although there are several mechanisms suggested for its formation, the argument that cytokines play a role is one of the most noted theories for its etiopathogenesis. This study aims to determine monocyte expression levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-? in patients with FMS and healthy females.The study consisted of 68 patients with FMS who were admitted to Gaziantep University Medical Faculty PTR Department and 40 healthy females. A detailed form has been filled out for both groups which included menopausal state, marital status, number of pregnancies, number of live births, number of children, body height, weight, BMI, time elapsed since diagnosis, educational status, previous surgical history, accompanying systemic diseases, medication, smoking and drinking habits, number of tender points, VAS, FIQ, HAM-A and HAM-D, MFIS and NHP. In whole blood PBMCs drawn in tubes with EDTA from patients and control group between 08.30-9.30 hrs, TNF- ? , IL-6, IL-8, IL-1 ? expression was evaluated using FACS Flow Cytometry device.All 68 FMS patients and 40 healthy controls were females, while no statistically significant difference was found between their average ages, BMIs and other demographic information (p>0,05). Prevalancy rates of morning stiffness in joints, chronic pain, referred pain, fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, history of subjective swelling of extremites, paresthesia, distress, headache, dysmenorrhea, irritable colon syndrome, depression were statistically significant and higher in patients with FMS than in control group (p<0,05). Patient?s global evaluation score, physician?s global evaluation score, VAS, HAM-A and HAM-D, FIQ, total MFIS score, NHP total subscore values were statistically significantly increased in patients with FMS than in control group (p<0,001).Whereas our study did not reveal significant difference in terms of expression of cytokines from monocytes in FMS patients (p>0,05), it propounds the necessity of further studies on the subject in which serum and PBMC related measurements are performed together.