Serum lipid profile in patients with fibromyalgia

Lee, Jung Nam; Kim, San; Park, Jong Ryul; Lee, Jin Ho; Lee, Chun Kwan; Jeong, Jae Hoon; Lee, Ji Hyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder that's characterized by widespread bodily pain, chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome and increased tenderness at specific anatomic sites. This study was undertaken to compare the serum lipid profiles in patients with FMS and the healthy controls, and we also wanted to investigate relationship between the serum lipid levels and the symptoms in FMS patients.
METHODS
Fifty three patients who visited Maryknoll Hospital between March 2001 and March 2005 were included; they were compared with 53 age & gender matched healthy adults. We assessed the serum lipid profile of the FMS patients in terms of the tender points, the Korean Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (KFIQ) scores and the Korean Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (KCES-D) scores.
RESULTS
Total cholesterol (208.9+/-38.5 vs 194.2+/-37.1, respectively, p=0.047) and LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein cholesterol, 121.9+/-31.0 vs 109.3+/-32.2, respectively, p=0.043) were significantly higher in the FMS patients than in the controls. The tender points and KCES D scores were inversely influenced by the total cholesterol, and there was a statistically significant difference. The KFIQ score was inversely influenced with the lipid profile, but there was no statistically significant difference.
CONCLUSIONS
The results showed significant differences in the lipid levels of FMS patients and the controls. More extensive investigation of the lipid levels is required to determine whether the lipid levels are associated with FMS.