The Association of IGF-1 with Clinical Symptoms in Female Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disease of unknown etiology, which is characterised by chronic pain. Disturbed growth hormone response, low serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may play a role in etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia and may be related to the severity of some symptom. The aim of this study is to investigate serum IGF-1 levels and relationship of clinical symptoms in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven patients with FMS and thirty healthy subjects were included in this study. All individuals were assessed for clinical findings, widespread pain (Visual Analogue Scale), functional disability and health state (health assesment questionnarie and fibromyalgia impact questionnarie), anxiety (anxiety State and Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depression (Beck depression inventory). Likert scale was used for evaluate morning stiffness, level of fatigue, pain, muscle spasm and tenderness. Results: In this study, serum IGF-1 levels of patients with fibromyalgia were significantly lower compared to the control group (p=0.004). The IGF-1 levels were significantly correlated with age (r=-0.496; p<0.01), muscle spasm (r=-0.333; p<0.05), tender points (r=-456; p<0.01) and morning stiffness (r=-0.463; p<0.01). Conclusion: Low levels of serum IGF-1 in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome were associated with number of tender points, muscle spasm and stiffness. We have concluded that low levels of serum IGF-1 might play role in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia and might be related to severity of symptoms.