title: Evaluation of leptin levels among fibromyalgia patients before and after three months of treatment, in comparison with healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin, an adipocyte-produced cytokine, interacts with various hormones, including those of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by widespread pain accompanied by tenderness. The pathogenesis involves a disturbance in pain processing and transmission by the central nervous system, leading to a general increase in pain perception.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze potential changes in leptin levels among female fibromyalgia patients compared with healthy controls, and to evaluate the changes in leptin levels during treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen female fibromyalgia patients were recruited. Patients underwent clinical evaluation, physical examination, including manual dolorimetry, and were evaluated regarding quality of life, pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Plasma leptin levels were determined by ELISA. Patients were offered standard treatment for fibromyalgia. Clinical evaluation and leptin determination were repeated after three months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was observed between leptin levels among fibromyalgia patients and controls; no significant correlation was observed between leptin levels and clinical parameters reflecting fibromyalgia severity; and no significant change was observed in leptin levels over three months of treatment. These results did not change after adjustment of leptin levels for body mass index values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study do not support the existence of a significant relationship between leptin and fibromyalgia pathogenesis. Increasing the sample size or examining the interaction between leptin and additional hormones⁄mediators of metabolism and body weight control may yet uncover significant information in this field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. ajacob@post.tau.ac.il
authors.forename: Jacob Nadav
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Ablin
authors.forename: Natalya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aronov
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Shimon
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kanety
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pariente
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aloush
authors.forename: Ori
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Elkayam
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Levartovsky
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000082:Acetaminophen; D000700:Analgesics; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D020738:Leptin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors