Audiovestibular Dysfunction in Patients with Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia syndrome is a disorder of widespread pain with unknown etiology. These patients frequently suffer from otologic complaints. This study aims to analyze the audiovestibular functions in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

METHODS: The study included 33 fibromyalgia patients and 33 healthy volunteers. All the study subjects underwent audiological assessment, multifrequency tympanometry, transient otoacoustic emission, and ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials tests.

RESULTS: Pure-tone hearing thresholds of right and left ears were found to be decreased in fibromyalgia patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). Middle ear resonance frequency values were significantly decreased in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome compared to controls (P <.05). The values for signal-to-noise ratios were higher in controls than in the FMS patients. The difference was significant for 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz (P >.005). Cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential waves were obtained in all controls, but could not be obtained in 5 right ears and 4 left ears of the fibromyalgia patients (P <.05). Also, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials were obtained in all controls, but could not be obtained in 7 right ears and 10 left ears of the patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (P <.05).

CONCLUSION: Our findings support the presence of audiovestibular dysfunction in patients with fibromyalgia. Further research that focuses on the pathogenesis of these dysfunctions is required.