Cytokine patterns in fibromyalgia and their correlation with clinical manifestations

CER2989
2007 Vol.25, N°2
PI 0225, PF 0230
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PMID: 17543146 [PubMed]

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
To examine the possible role of the soluble factor in fibromyalgia (FM) by studying the correlation of cytokine levels with the patients` clinical and psychiatric profile.
METHODS:
Eighty FM patients underwent clinical and psychiatric evaluations, and plasma levels of cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α), aspecific markers of inflammation, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies, and anti-nuclear factor (FAN) were measured.
RESULTS:
Higher levels of IL-10, IL-8 and TNF-α were found in FM patients than in controls. Significant correlations between the biochemical parameters and clinical data were found.
CONCLUSIONS:
The higher levels of cytokines found in FM patients suggest the presence of an inflammatory response system (IRS) and highlight a parallel between the clinical symptoms and biochemical data. They support the hypothesis that cyto-kines may play a role in the clinical features of fibromyalgia. In addition, the similar cytokine patterns found in FM patients with different psychiatric profiles suggests that IRS impairment may play a specific role in the disease.