Hemorheological parameters in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate hemorheological parameters in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in order to elucidate the etiology of the disease.


METHODS
Twenty-three adult FMS patients and 20 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Diabetics, hypertensives and those with any rheumatological disorder or use drugs or smoking cigarette were excluded from the study. Following parameters were analyzed in each subject; erythrocyte deformability, erythrocyte aggregation, plasma viscosity, complete blood count, fasting blood glucose, fibrinogen, albumin, globulin and lipid profile.


RESULTS
Erythrocyte elongation indices indicating deformability of erythrocytes were higher in FMS patients (0.564±0.002 at 16.87 mPa and 0.605±0.002 at 30 mPa shear rate) than controls (0.558±0.001 at 16.87 mPa and 0.600±0.003 at 30 mPa shear rate). Erythrocyte aggregation speed was higher in FMS patients (2.1±0.1 s) than controls (2.3±0.2 s). Erythrocyte aggregation index was also higher in FMS patients (65.5±1.3) than controls (62.9±1.5). Erythrocyte aggregation amplitude and plasma viscosity values were similar in both groups (both p > 0.05). Among the complete blood count and biochemical parameters, only albumin levels were lower in the FM patients than controls (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate higher erythrocyte deformability and quicker erythrocyte aggregation in FM patients.
Department of Physiology, Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey.
Okan
O
Arihan
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey.
Gokhan
G
Caglayan
Department of Physiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Sibel
S
Bayrak
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Aysen
A
Akinci
Department of Physiology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Neslihan Dikmenoglu
ND
Falkmarken
D000328:Adult; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D018056:Hemorheology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013577:Syndrome
Erythrocyte aggregation; blood viscosity; erythrocyte; erythrocyte deformability; fibromyalgia; hemorheology; plasma viscosity