Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2004 , Vol 50 , Num 6

Hormonal Disfonksiyon Şüphesi ile Tetkik Edilen Hastaların Fibromiyalji Yönünden Değerlendirilmesi

Meltem Esenyel 1 ,Saliha Eroğlu Demir 1 ,Nihal Özaras 2
1 SSK Vakıf Gureba Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, İstanbul
2 Bezmialem Vakıf Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Fiziksel Tıp ve Rehabilitasyon Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a disorder of unknown etiology characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and symptoms such as fatigue, poor sleep, gastrointestinal complaints and psychological disturbances which are similar to those experienced by patients with hormonal dysfunction. Studies suggest that neuromediator and hormonal abnormalities may play an important role in the pathogenesis of FM. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of FM in patients with possible hormonal dysfunction. Fifty-three female patients, who applied to the Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Dermatology outpatient clinics and whose follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone levels were measured following the physical examination, were included in this study. Patients were examined, and demographic, functional and clinical characteristics were documented. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was used to search the level of the depressive symptoms. Group I included patients who fulfilled the criteria suggested by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) for the diagnosis of FM (33 patients). The rest of the patients were classified as Group II (20 patients). International Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) criteria were used for the differential diagnosis of CFS. Among the patients with complaints similar to those which occur in hormonal dysfunction, 62.3% matched ACR FM criteria. However, no statistically significant differences were found for the FSH, LH, PRL, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone levels between the two groups (p>0.05). BDI scores were significantly higher in Group I (p<0.05). Only 30.2% of patients in Group I were prescribed hormone therapy by their initial doctors. In conclusion, this pilot study should be expanded on wider patient populations, in order to make a better assessment on the relationship between hormonal disturbances and FM.

Keywords : Fibromyalgia, hormones, pai