ABSTRACT
Fibromyalgia syndrome [FMS] is a common rheumatologic syndrome with multiple manifestations and associated with many diseases, it characterized by chronic wide spread muscular pain and tenderness. Further, circulatory levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-8 and others may be altered in FMS patients, possibly associated with their symptoms.The objective of the study is to measure IL-8 concentration and to evaluate its role in the pathogenesis of primary FMS. Fifty patients with primary FMS were included in the study [37 females and 13 males] the age range of [17-65] years [Mean +/- SD] [40.13 +/- 12.0] years, and thirty healthy individuals volunteers [21 females and 9 males], whose age and sex matching with FMS patients, age ranging [18-63] years, [Mean +/- SD] [36.1 +/- 10.0] years. IL-8 concentration was measured in sera of patients and controls by ELISA kit. Anthropometric measurements like body mass index [BMI] and waist circumference [WCr] were taken, besides other features like sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and fatigue were reported. IL-8 concentration was higher in FMS patients than controls[40.24 +/- 22.0] pg/ml vs. [19.16 +/- 7.8] pg/ml. This elevation was highly significant statistically [p=0.000].Other measurements in patients group like BMI, WCr were[28.39 +/- 5.0] Kg/m2 and [100.34 +/- 13.21] cm respectively .These values were highly significant when compared to their control group [p=0.002]and [p=0.008] respectively .Clinical features like sleep disturbance, emotional distress, and fatigue showed highly significant difference between the two groups . No significant differences were reported with respect to age and sex. The result of the current study suggest that interleukin-8, [IL-8] might have a role in the pathogenesis of FMS