Serum levels of IGE-1'in patients with FM and associated with cilincal symptoms

ABSTRACT Aim: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder of an unknown etiology and caracterized by symptoms, such as chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain, tiredness, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal complaints and psychological problems. The aim of this study is to investigate serum IGF-1 levels and their relationship with clinical symptoms in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Method: In 37 patients diagnosed on the basis of ACR diagnostic criteria and 30 healthy subjects as control group, serum IGF-1 levels and their relationship with clinical symptoms were investigated. All individuals were assessed for clinical findings, pain, severity, functional disability, health state, anxiety and depression. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) for depression, State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for anxiety, Health Assesment Questionnaire (HAQ) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) for functional disability and health state were evaluated. In addition, LikertScala (no (0), poor (1), moderate (2), severe (3) and very severe (4) was used to assess morning stiffness, tiredness, sleep disorders, pain, muscle spasm and sensitivity. Findings: Serum IGF-1 levels in patients with fibromyalgia were found to be significantly lower with respect to controls (p=0.004). There was a significant correlation between IGF-1 levels and age (r=0.496; p<0.01), muscle spasm (r=-0.333; p<0.05), the number of tender points (r=-456; pO.Ol) and morning stiffness (r=-0.493; p<0.01). Conclusion: Our study suggest that serum IGF-1 levels in patients with fibromyalgia were lower with respect to controls and that there was a a significant correlation between these low values in serum IGF-1 levels and tender points number, stiffness and muscle spasm. We have concluded that low levels of serum IGF-1 might play a role in the pathogenesis of FM and might be relatad to the severity of symptoms. 48