Arterial Stiffness in Female Patients With Fibromyalgia and Its Relationship to Chronic Emotional and Physical Stress.
10.4070/kcj.2011.41.10.596
- Author:
Ji Hyun LEE
1
;
Kyoung Im CHO
;
Seong Man KIM
;
Hyeon Gook LEE
;
Tae Ik KIM
Author Information
1. Division of Rheumatology, Maryknoll Medical Center, Busan, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Fibromyalgia;
Compliance;
Stress;
Pulse wave velocity
- MeSH:
Aluminum Hydroxide;
Carbonates;
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Chronic Pain;
Compliance;
Female;
Fibromyalgia;
Humans;
Pulse Wave Analysis;
Vascular Stiffness;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Korean Circulation Journal
2011;41(10):596-602
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In patients with fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome, stress and pain may chronically enhance sympathetic activity, altering cardiovascular responses and inducing the arterial wall-stiffening process. We investigated arterial stiffness in FM patients using pulse wave velocity (PWV) and analyzed whether arterial stiffness was affected by the clinical parameters of FM. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study included 108 female FM patients (51.5+/-8.9 years) without any known cardiovascular diseases and 76 healthy female controls (50.1+/-8.9 years). FM patients underwent a manual tender point survey for tender point counts, and completed the visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain and fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ), which were composed of a physical and feel score. Brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV) was measured with an automated device. The study participants were subdivided into 2 groups based on the sum of the FIQ score (group A: FIQ > or =50, group B: <50). RESULTS: Patients with FM had significantly higher baPWV than the controls, and significant increase were noted in baPWV values of group A compared with those of group B. BaPWV showed a significant positive correlation (correlation coefficient=6.83, p=0.022) with severity of disease assessed by FIQ. CONCLUSION: The patients with FM showed significantly increased arterial stiffness, suggesting a pathophysiologic link between FM and endothelial dysfunction. This study provides a basis for clarifying the mechanism by which chronic pain syndrome is associated with an increased risk of vascular stiffness.
