Abstract
Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterised by chronic widespread pain at multiple tender points, as well as joint stiffness and systemic symptoms. The aetiology and pathogenesis of fibromyalgia still remain unclear, although many contributory factors have been suggested. The presence of some common features between fibromyalgia and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. depression and sleep disturbance) led to question of whether there is there a relationship between fibromyalgia and cardiovascular disease and/or atherosclerosis. Mean platelet volume, which is a determinant of platelet activation, is a newly emerging independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
The present study was designed to evaluate levels of mean platelet volume in patients with fibromyalgia; the study population consisted of 283 individuals with this syndrome, who were compared with 72 healthy controls. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, platelet count and mean platelet volume levels were retrospectively recorded via the computerised patient database. The levels of mean platelet volume were significantly higher in the fibromyalgia group than in the control group (8.09 ± 0.84 fl and 7.73 ± 0.65 fl, respectively, p < 0.001). There were no statistical differences between groups with regard to platelet count and other parameters. These results suggest that an early atherosclerosis marker, mean platelet volume, is elevated in patients with fibromyalgia. This indicates increased platelet activation and therefore a higher risk of future cardiovascular disease.
Zusammenfassung
Fibromyalgie ist ein Syndrom, das durch chronische, an mehreren Tenderpoints verbreitete Schmerzen sowie durch Gelenksteife und systemische Symptome gekennzeichnet ist. Ätiologie und Pathogenese der Fibromyalgie sind immer noch ungeklärt, auch wenn viele mitwirkende Faktoren genannt worden sind. Das Vorliegen einiger gemeinsamer Merkmale von Fibromyalgie und kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren (z. B. Depression und Schlafstörungen) führte zu der Frage, ob es einen Zusammenhang zwischen Fibromyalgie und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen und/oder Atherosklerose gebe. Das mittlere Thrombozytenvolumen, ein Parameter der Thromobozytenaktivierung, ist ein neu aufkommender unabhängiger Risikofaktor für Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen.
Mit der vorliegenden Studie sollte die Höhe des mittleren Thrombozytenvolumens bei Patienten mit Fibromyalgie ermittelt werden; die Studienpopulation bestand aus 283 Personen mit diesem Syndrom, welche mit 72 gesunden Kontrollen verglichen wurden. Blutsenkungsgeschwindigkeit, C-reaktives Protein, Leukozytenzahl, Thrombozytenzahl und mittleres Thrombozytenvolumen wurden retrospektiv anhand der elektronischen Patientendatenbank erfasst. Die Werte für das mittlere Thrombozytenvolumen waren in der Gruppe mit Fibromyalgie signifikant höher als in der Kontrollgruppe (8,09 ± 0,84 fl bzw. 7,73 ± 0,65 fl; p < 0,001). Es gab keine statistischen Unterschiede zwischen den Gruppen in Hinblick auf die Thrombozytenzahl und andere Parameter. Diese Ergebnisse sprechen dafür, dass ein früher Atherosklerosemarker, das mittlere Thrombozytenvolumen, bei Patienten mit Fibromyalgie erhöht ist. Das ist ein Anzeichen einer erhöhten Thrombozytenaktivierung und somit eines höheren Risikos zukünftiger Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen.
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Conflict of interest. S. Haliloğlu, A. Carlioglu, E. Sahiner, Y. Karaaslan, and A. Kosar state that there are no conficts of interest. The accompanying manuscript does not include studies on humans or animals.
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Haliloğlu, S., Carlioglu, A., Sahiner, E. et al. Mean platelet volume in patients with fibromyalgia. Z. Rheumatol. 73, 742–745 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-013-1330-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00393-013-1330-7