NEUROENDOCRINE ABNORMALITIES IN FIBROMYALGIA AND RELATED DISORDERS

Fibromyalgia (FM) and related syndromes are poorly understood disorder s that share symptoms such as pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and p sychological distress. These syndromes are more common in women, and t hey are associated with psychological or physical stressors, The neuro endocrine axes are essential physiologic systems that allow for commun ication between the brain and the body. Interconnections among the neu roendocrine axes lead to coordinate regulation of these systems in bot h a positive and negative fashion. Several neuroendocrine axes have be en shown to be dysfunctional in patients with FM. Although we do not y et understand the relationship between the reported disturbances of ne uroendocrine function and the development or maintenance of FM and rel ated syndromes, the authors have proposed that these abnormalities are important in symptomatic manifestations. This article reviews data sh owing disturbances of the neuroendocrine axes in FM and proposes a hyp othesis of the development and maintenance of FM related to neuroendoc rine disturbances.