REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES, ANTIOXIDANT STATUS AND FIBROMYALGIA

Objectives: Several biological findings reported in fibromyalgia [FMS] , support a ''free radicals hypothesis'' justifying appropriate invest igations in this condition. Methods: Plasma or erythrocytes malondiald ehyde, protein carbonyls [PC], nitric oxide [NO] as well as antioxidan t parameters such as vitamin A, vitamin E, thiols, glutathione and glu tathione peroxidase, were assessed in 28 FMS patients [mean age 40 yea rs] and 20 age-matched controls. Results: Protein carbonyls [P < 0.01] were significantly increased. Thiols [P < 0.01], were significantly d ecreased and correlated with PC [R = -0.44, P < 0.05]. Nitric oxide [P < 0.01] was significantly decreased. Conclusions: Increased protein p eroxidation, associated with thiol abnormalities and decreased plasma NO levels are demonstrated in FMS.