title: [Low levels of serotonin in serum correlates with severity of fibromyalgia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome of unknown etiology, which affects predominantly women. Among the alterations that have been implicated in the pathophysiology of FM, there have been postulated disturbances in serotonin levels and metabolism, and their implication in symptoms. The aim of the present study was to assess the correlation levels between low levels of serotonin and severity of symptoms in FM.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined serotonin levels using an ELISA kit in serum from 38 FM patients and 25 healthy individual. Results were correlated with symptoms regarding pain, depression, impact of disease (FIQ) and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serotonin levels were decreased by 45% compared to healthy individual. An important correlation was observed between serotonin levels and predetermined parameters of pain, depression, FIQ and age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serotonin levels are correlated with severity of FM. In addition, there is an interesting correlation between serotonin levels and age of patients.
authors.affiliation: Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD), Universidad Pablo de Olavide-CSIC y Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Sevilla, España. mdcormor@upo.es
authors.forename: Mario David
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.forename: Elísabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alcocer-Gómez
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Cano-García
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Miguel
authors.forename: Jose Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Alcázar
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moreno Fernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin