ELEVATED LEVELS OF HYALURONIC-ACID IN THE SERA OF WOMEN WITH FIBROMYALGIA

Objective, To evaluate serum levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) in patient s with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods. HA serum levels were evaluated by a radiometric assay in 42 women with FM (ACR criteria), 27 female patie nts with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 36 healthy female controls matc hed for age. Results, HA serum levels (mean mu g/l +/- SEM) were 41 +/ - 8.7 in healthy controls; 113 +/- 15.9 in RA; and 420 +/- 26 in FM. C onclusion, HA serum levels in women with FM were significantly elevate d compared to healthy controls and patients with RA, This observation suggests that FM is associated with a biochemical abnormality and that serum HA could be a laboratory marker for its diagnosis.