NORMAL MELATONIN LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME

Objective. To assess urine levels of melatonin measured by 6-sulphatox ymelatonin (aMT6s) in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods. Noctur nal aMT6s urine levels were measured by ELISA, in a sample of urine co llected from 10 PM to 7 AM from 39 female patients with FM and 39 age matched healthy female controls. All subjects were interviewed and ass essed for nonarticular tenderness, FM symptoms, quality of life, and p hysical functioning. Results. Nocturnal aMT6s levels of patients with FM were not statistically different from those of controls: 16.7 +/- 9 .2 vs 16.0 +/- 11.3 mu g, respectively, No association was observed be tween aMT6s levels of patients with FM and disease duration, reproduct ive status, sleep and mood disturbances. Conclusion. Nocturnal urine a MT6s levels were similar in patients with FM and controls. Studies are needed to elucidate the possible role of melatonin in FM and should i nclude larger samples of newly diagnosed untreated patients with FM.