Investigation of proinflamatory citokines in peripheral blood in patients with fibromiyalgie syndrome

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the proinflammatory cytokine levels in peripheral blood of patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS). We tried to determine the relationship among proinflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized LDL and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and chronic widespread pain which is associated with fibromyalgia syndrome and has no known cause, and disease severity. Patients who came to department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in BEU Faculty of Medicine with widespread pain and were diagnosed with fibromyalgia according to ACR 2010 criteria after exclusion of other diseases with diffuse musculoskelatal pain were included in this study. Control group composed of healthy volunteers without having any disease. Demographic data of patients and healthy control group was taken, and general musculoskeletal system examinations were performed for each individual. Functional status of patients and disease severity were evaluated by Fibromyalgia Impact Questionairre (FIQ). Widespread Pain Index (WPI) and Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) were calculated. Age was not significantly different between those two groups (p=0,159). Smoking and alcohol use did not significantly differ between those two groups (p values, p=0,781; p=0,294, respectively). Mean body mass indexes (BMI) of patients and control groups were 21,65 ± 3,32 and 21,80±3,38 respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between these two groups (p= 0,993). Serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and oxidized LDL were not statistically different between patient and healthy control groups (p values; p=0,144; p=0,284; p=0,186; p=0,956; p=0,653; p=0,379; respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between FIQ scores and parameters including serum TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized LDL (p values; p=0,066; p=0,885; p=0,061; p=0,149; p=0,095; p=0,453; respectively). Relationship among 'Number of Tender Points (NTP)' and serum proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8 ) and oxidized-LDL levels were not statistically significant (p values; p=0,502; p=0,285; p=0,261; p=0,600; respectively). 'Visual Analog Scale (VAS)' did not have statistically significant relationship with serum IL-1β and oxidized LDL (p values; p=0,243; p=0,154; respectively); but relationship between serum IL-8 ve TNF-α was statistically significant (p values; p=0,043; p=0,021; respectively). In addition the Symptom Severity Scale (SSS) had significant relationship with serum oxidized LDL in patient group (p=0,006). These findings suggest that pain in fibromyalgia syndrome can be related serum TNF-α, IL-8 and Ox-LDL, and TNF-α, IL-8 and Ox-LDL can play a role in etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia.