Association between thyroid autoimmunity and fibromyalgic disease severity

Abstract

Our objectives were to investigate thyroid abnormalities and autoimmunity in 120 patients affected by fibromyalgia (FM) and to study their relationships with clinical data and symptoms. Thyroid assessment by means of antithyroglobulin antibodies, antithyroid peroxidase antibodies, free triiodo-thyronine, free thyroxine, and thyroid stimulating hormone analyses was carried out. The clinical parameters "Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire", pain, tender points, fatigue, and other symptoms, and the presence of depression or anxiety disorders were evaluated. The basal thyroid hormone levels of FM patients were in the normal range, while 41% of the patients had at least one thyroid antibody. Patients with thyroid autoimmunity showed a higher percentage of dry eyes, burning, or pain with urination, allodynia, blurred vision, and sore throat. Correlations found between thyroid autoimmunity and age or with the presence of depression or anxiety disorders were not significant. However, in the cohort of post-menopausal patients, the frequency of thyroid autoimmunity was higher with respect to pre-menopausal patients. In conclusion, autoimmune thyroiditis is present in an elevated percentage of FM patients, and it has been associated with the presence of typical symptoms of the disease.

Relationship between Thyroid Autoimmunity and Depression, Quality of Life, and Disease Symptoms in Patients with Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis

“…Pamuk et al (7) noted similar rates of thyroid autoantibody positivity in patients with FM and RA (34.4% and 29.7%, respectively), which were both significantly higher than that noted in healthy controls (18.8%). It was reported in another study that a higher rate of autoantibody positivity, especially TPOAb positivity, was observed in 28 patients newly diagnosed with RA compared to controls (19). However, Chan et al (20) reported that a higher rate of TPOAb positivity was noted in SLE patients (23.2%) compared to the normal population, while the rate of TPOAb positivity was similar between the normal population and RA patients (10.9%).…”

Fibromyalgia syndrome in chronic urticaria patients

“…Böylelikle FMS'nin bir sonucu olarak birçok hastada kronik ürtiker ortaya çıkıyor olabilir 9 . Hem kronik ürtikerli hastalarda hem de FMS'li hastalarda otoimmün hastalıkların prevalansı yüksektir [21][22][23] . Bu ortak noktadan hareketle oluşturulan bir başka hipoteze göre her iki hastalığın patogenezinde de otoimmünite suçlanmaktadır ve periferal kutanöz sinirlerdeki değişiklikler otoimmünite ile açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır 24 .…”

“…Fakat deri hastalıklarındaki nörojenik inflamasyonun FMS ile ilişkisini ortaya çıkaracak ileri çalışmalar gerekmektedir. Literatürde hem kronik ürtikerli hastalarda 21,22 hem de FMS'li hastalarda 23 otoimmün hastalıklar yüksek oranda saptanmıştır. Bazzichi ve ark.…”

Fibromyalgia syndrome: preventive, social and economic aspects

“…Smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity are predictive factors that could be targets for intervention (12). A number of stressors have been temporally correlated with the onset of the syndrome, including trauma, infection (e.g., hepatitis C virus, HIV, Lyme disease), emotional stress, catastrophic events (e.g., war), autoimmune diseases and other pain conditions (13,14). In conclusion, the goal of secondary prevention is to facilitate early detection of disease development when patients are asymptomatic and intervention improves outcome.…”