title: Normal profile of sex hormones in women with primary fibromyalgia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  One of the prevailing hypotheses on the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia (FM) emphasizes the role of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in this condition. Aberrant function of the axis was inferred from decreased concentrations of growth hormone and serotonin and reduced urinary excretion of corticosteroid metabolites observed in FM patients. Studies in a very limited number of FM patients suggest that disturbances in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis may also lead to changes in the synthesis of sex hormones.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in 19 women aged 23 to 46 years in whom FM was diagnosed according to ACR criteria. The control group consisted of 18 healthy women aged 21 to 41 years. Pain intensity and sleep quality was assessed with the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The number of points reported as painful ("tender points") was measured by dolorimetry. Hormones or contraceptives were not administered to the women during the pre-study period. Blood was collected on day 8 or 9 of the menstrual cycle and serum was prepared for measurements of estradiol and progesterone with Microparticle Enzyme Immunoassay (MEIA) and AxSYM reagents from Abbott (USA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study and control groups differed as to pain intensity and sleep quality, as well as number of tender points reported. However, groups did not differ as to mean concentration of estradiol or progesterone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A deficit of sex hormones does not appear to be part of the manifestations of FM.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Physiotherapy, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Samborski
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sobieska
authors.forename: Przemysław
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pieta
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Drews
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brzosko
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000378:metabolism*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006066:Gonads / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D012701:Serotonin; D013006:Growth Hormone