title: Evaluation of aortic elastic properties in patients with fibromyalgia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic high sympathetic activity may lead to various negative cardiovascular responses in fibromyalgia. We aimed to investigate the elastic properties of the aorta in patients with fibromyalgia enrolled in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twelve women with fibromyalgia and 50 healthy controls were enrolled. Elastic parameters of aorta (aortic distensibility, aortic stiffness index) were calculated by predetermined formulas. Additionally fibromyalgia patients were subdivided into two groups as severely symptomatic (group A) and less symptomatic patients (group B).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aortic distensibility was significantly lower in group A than group B and control (3.18±1.35 vs. 4.00±0.99 and 4.03±0.6, P=0.03 and 0.007 respectively). Aortic Stiffness Index was significantly higher in group A than group B and control group (5.85±1.48 vs. 3.97±1.23 and 3.79±0.72, P=0.001 and P<0.001 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that elastic properties of aorta are impaired in patients with severely symptomatic fibromyalgia.
authors: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey - ozgurulasozcan@yahoo.com.tr.
authors: Ozgur
authors: O
authors: Ozcan
authors: Didem
authors: D
authors: Sezgin Ozcan
authors: Basar
authors: B
authors: Candemir
authors: Meltem
authors: M
authors: Aras
authors: Belma
authors: B
authors: Koseoglu
authors: Cetin
authors: C
authors: Erol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D059289:Vascular Stiffness; D055815:Young Adult