Fibromyalgic syndromes: could growth hormone therapy be beneficial

Pediatr Endocrinol Rev. 2009 Jun;6 Suppl 4:529-33.

Fibromyalgic syndromes: could growth hormone therapy be beneficial

Cuatrecasas G. Endocrinology Department, Centro Medico Teknon & C Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Spain. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic, idiopathic condition in which patients experience pain, asthenia and fatigue. The pathogenesis of the condition is unknown, and numerous mechanisms have been postulated, including neural hypersensitivity and autoimmunity. Symptoms of fibromyalgia are broadly similar to those of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), and there is evidence of decreased GH secretion and functional GHD in a subset of patients with fibromyalgia. Use of GH therapy in this patient population therefore represents a rational treatment strategy. Preliminary placebo-controlled trials have shown that GH therapy can significantly improve signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia and quality of life in patients receiving the current standard of care. Despite the use of relatively high doses of GH in these patients, treatment is well tolerated. Several mechanisms of action for GH in fibromyalgia have been suggested, including both central and peripheral effects.

PMID: 19550388 [PubMed - in process]