SERUM BETA-ENDORPHIN IN PRIMARY FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME - A CONTROLLED-STUDY

  • 1 February 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (1) , 183-186
Abstract
Serum .beta.-endorphin was assayed without knowledge of study subject category in 44 consecutive patients with primary fibromyalgia syndrome, 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 30 normal controls, all females. Mean serum .beta.-endorphin levels were 81 .+-. 28 pg/ml in patients with fibromyalgia, whereas those in normal controls and patients with RA were 73 .+-. 17 pg/mg and 73 .+-. 18 pg/ml, respectively. These differences were not statistically significant. Serum .beta.-endorphin levels did not correlate with relevant clinical variables in either fibromyalgia or RA groups.