Could endocan, a marker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, be a new diagnostic marker for fibromyalgia?

Background: Although the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia has not yet been fully clarified, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been suggested to occur in patients with fibromyalgia. In recent years, endocan has been reported as an important biomarker for inflammation and endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we investigated this mechanism by measuring the serum endocan levels in fibromyalgia patients. Methods: The serum samples collected from 37 female patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia for the first time and 43 healthy women were analysed in terms of the endocan levels and laboratory parameters, and the values from the two groups were compared. Results: In the patient group, the serum endocan level was found to be higher (p < 0.0001). Endocan had a significantly high sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia (area under curve: 0.897, cutoff value: 9.81 ng/mL, sensitivity: 88.5%, specificity: 89.7%). Conclusions: Subclinical inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are important in the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia. Increased endocan not only elucidates this mechanism but also presents as an important potential marker for fibromyalgia. © 2018 Verlag Klinisches Labor GmbH. All rights reserved.