title: High prevalence of fibromyalgia-associated symptoms in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Various complaints of patients with fibromyalgia often resemble clinical features observed in patients with hypothalamic-pituitary diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with hypothalamic-pituitary diseases are at increased risk for fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS).
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire for evaluating fibromyalgia-associated symptoms was sent to 121 patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders (HPD) (60 women, 61 men; mean age, 55.4 years; range, 21-83 years) of the endocrine outpatient clinic. 115 patients (57 women, 58 men; mean age 56.9 years; range, 21 to 82 years) with cardiovascular diseases (CD) served as controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fibromyalgia-associated symptoms regarding muscular complaints were significantly more frequent in the HPD group than in CD patients (53.7 % vs. 35.7%, p= 0.003). In particular, we found a significant higher prevalence of autonomic symptoms in the HPD group as compared to the CD group regarding several qualities (cold hands, p=0.039; flatulence, p=0.022; tiredness, p=0.017). In addition, swollen and painful finger joints were reported more often in the HPD group than in the CD group (p=0.002). Of note, no differences regarding any fibromyalgia-associated symptom were detected when patients with hypothalamic-pituitary hormone excess syndromes were compared to those with a pituitary pathology without hormonal excess. Similarly, prevalence of fibromyalgia-associated symptoms was not related to the treatment modality of pituitary disease; i.e. surgical vs. conservative or any hormonal replacement therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that patients with hypothalamic-pituitary disorders may be at increased risk of developing fibromyalgia-associated symptoms.
authors: Department of Medicine I, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany. birgit.harbeck@uk-sh.de.
authors: Birgit
authors: B
authors: Harbeck
authors: Sven
authors: S
authors: Süfke
authors: Pontus
authors: P
authors: Harten
authors: Christian S
authors: CS
authors: Haas
authors: Hendrik
authors: H
authors: Lehnert
authors: Heiner
authors: H
authors: Mönig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007027:Hypothalamic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010900:Pituitary Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult