The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia syndrome

Tanriverdi F., Karaca Z., Unluhizarci K., Kelestimur F.

STRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS, cilt.10, sa.1, ss.13-25, 2007 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 10 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2007
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1080/10253890601130823
  • Dergi Adı: STRESS-THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL ON THE BIOLOGY OF STRESS
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.13-25
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: adrenal, CRH stimulation test, glucagon test, HPA axis, hypothalamus, insulin tolerance test, CORTICOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE, SHORT SYNACTHEN TEST, LOW-DOSE HYDROCORTISONE, INSULIN TOLERANCE-TEST, 1 MU-G, URINARY FREE CORTISOL, ACTH TEST, METYRAPONE TEST, STRESS TEST, ADRENOCORTICOTROPIC HORMONE
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis plays a major role in the regulation of responses to stress. Human stress-related disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS), chronic pelvic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder are characterized by alterations in HPA axis activity. However, the role of the HPA axis alterations in these stress-related disorders is not clear. Most studies have shown that the HPA axis is underactive in the stress-related disorders, but contradictory results have also been reported, which may be due to the patients selected for the study, the methods used for the investigation of the HPA axis, the stage of the syndrome when the tests have been done and the interpretation of the results. There is no structural abnormality in the endocrine organs which comprise the HPA axis, thus it seems that hypocortisolemia found in the patients with stress-related disorder is functional. It may be also an adaptive response of the body to chronic stress. In this review, tests used in the assessment of HPA axis function and the HPA axis alterations found in CFS and FMS are discussed in detail.