Biomaterial Database

Plasma oxytocin levels in female fibromyalgia syndrome patients. 2000

U M Anderberg, and K Uvnäs-Moberg

Department of Neuroscience, Psychiatry University Hospital, 75185 Uppsala, Sweden. UllaMaria.Anderberg@UASPsyk.uu.se

OBJECTIVE Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic pain disorder, where 90% of the patients struck by the disorder are women. The neuropeptide oxytocin is known to have antinociceptive and analgesic, as well as anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, which makes this neuropeptide of interest in fibromyalgia research. The aim of this study was to assess oxytocin concentrations in female FMS patients with different hormonal status and in depressed and non-depressed patients and relate oxytocin concentrations to adverse symptoms as pain, stress, depression, anxiety and to the positive item happiness. METHODS Thirty-nine patients and 30 controls registered these symptoms daily during 28 days and blood samples for the assessment of oxytocin were drawn twice in all patients and controls. Besides the daily ratings, depression was also estimated with the self-rating instrument Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS Depressed patients according to the BDI differed significantly with low levels of oxytocin compared to the non-depressed patients and the controls. Low levels of oxytocin were also seen in high scoring pain, stress and depression patients according to the daily ratings; however, these subgroups were small. A negative correlation was found between the scored symptoms depression and anxiety and oxytocin concentration, and a positive correlation between the item happiness and oxytocin. The oxytocin concentration did not differ between the hormonally different subgroups of patients or controls. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the neuropeptide oxytocin may, together with other neuropeptides and neurotransmitters, play a role in the integration of the stress axes, monoaminergic systems and the pain processing peptides in the pathophysiologic mechanisms responsible for the symptoms in the FMS.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010121	Oxytocin	A nonapeptide hormone released from the neurohypophysis (PITUITARY GLAND, POSTERIOR). It differs from VASOPRESSIN by two amino acids at residues 3 and 8. Oxytocin acts on SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS, such as causing UTERINE CONTRACTIONS and MILK EJECTION.	Ocytocin,Pitocin,Syntocinon
D010555	Personality Inventory	Check list, usually to be filled out by a person about himself, consisting of many statements about personal characteristics which the subject checks.	Edwards Personal Preference Schedule,Myers-Briggs Type Indicator,Indicator, Myers-Briggs Type,Inventories, Personality,Inventory, Personality,Myers Briggs Type Indicator,Personality Inventories
D012016	Reference Values	The range or frequency distribution of a measurement in a population (of organisms, organs or things) that has not been selected for the presence of disease or abnormality.	Normal Range,Normal Values,Reference Ranges,Normal Ranges,Normal Value,Range, Normal,Range, Reference,Ranges, Normal,Ranges, Reference,Reference Range,Reference Value,Value, Normal,Value, Reference,Values, Normal,Values, Reference
D003866	Depressive Disorder	An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent.	Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D005260	Female		Females
D005356	Fibromyalgia	A common nonarticular rheumatic syndrome characterized by myalgia and multiple points of focal muscle tenderness to palpation (trigger points). Muscle pain is typically aggravated by inactivity or exposure to cold. This condition is often associated with general symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, fatigue, stiffness, HEADACHES, and occasionally DEPRESSION. There is significant overlap between fibromyalgia and the chronic fatigue syndrome (FATIGUE SYNDROME, CHRONIC). Fibromyalgia may arise as a primary or secondary disease process. It is most frequent in females aged 20 to 50 years. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1494-95)	Diffuse Myofascial Pain Syndrome,Fibrositis,Rheumatism, Muscular,Fibromyalgia, Primary,Fibromyalgia, Secondary,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Myofascial Pain Syndrome, Diffuse,Fibromyalgia Fibromyositis Syndrome,Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis Syndromes,Fibromyalgias,Fibromyalgias, Primary,Fibromyalgias, Secondary,Fibromyositis Fibromyalgia Syndrome,Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia Syndromes,Fibrositides,Muscular Rheumatism,Primary Fibromyalgia,Primary Fibromyalgias,Secondary Fibromyalgia,Secondary Fibromyalgias,Syndrome, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndrome, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia,Syndromes, Fibromyalgia-Fibromyositis,Syndromes, Fibromyositis-Fibromyalgia
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001008	Anxiety Disorders	Persistent and disabling ANXIETY.	Anxiety Neuroses,Anxiety States, Neurotic,Neuroses, Anxiety,Anxiety Disorder,Anxiety State, Neurotic,Disorder, Anxiety,Disorders, Anxiety,Neurotic Anxiety State,Neurotic Anxiety States,State, Neurotic Anxiety,States, Neurotic Anxiety