Serum Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Receptor Protein Levels in Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Ragıp Ulvi KORUCU1, Ahmet KARADAĞ1, Ayça TAŞ2, Esma ÖZMEN2, Emrullah HAYTA3, Yavuz SILIĞ2

1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
2Department of Biochemistry, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
3Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Acıbadem University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

Keywords: Calcitonin gene-related peptide, fibromyalgia, pain, receptor proteins

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to compare the serum calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and CGRP receptor protein levels between patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM) and healthy control subjects.

Patients and methods: The study included 88 patients (7 males, 81 females; mean age 44.5±9.1 years; range, 20 to 72 years) newly-diagnosed with FM according to the 2010 American College of Rheumatology criteria and 88 healthy volunteers (6 males, 82 females; mean age 43.0±6.1 years; range, 20 to 57 years). Venous blood samples were collected from both groups for the measurement of the levels of serum CGRP and CGRP receptor proteins (receptor component protein [RCP], receptor activity modifying protein 1 [RAMP 1] and calcitonin receptor-like receptor [CLR]).

Results: A comparison of the serum CGRP, CLR and RCP levels of the FM and control groups revealed a statistically significant difference (p=0.001, p=0.005, p=0.001, respectively). The difference between the groups in respect of the serum RAMP 1 levels was not statistically significant (p=0.107).

Conclusion: The serum CGRP, CLR and RCP levels were found to be higher in the FM patients, but no difference was determined between the FM patients and the healthy control group in respect of the RAMP 1 level. These results can be of guidance for further clinical studies of the etiopathogenesis and treatment of FM.

Citation: Korucu RU, Karadağ A, Taş A, Özmen E, Hayta E, Siliğ Y. Serum Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Receptor Protein Levels in Patients With Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study. Arch Rheumatol 2020;35(4):463-467.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

This study was supported by the Scientific Research Project Fund of Cumhuriyet University (project No. T788).