Effect of Steroids on Patients With Fibromyalgia/Chromic Widespread Pain: An Observational Study

Fibromyalgia causes widespread chronic pain. Pain management and treating underlying conditions are of utmost importance. Recent studies found an association of thyroid autoimmunity with fibromyalgia. Pain management of patients with anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO Ab) positive was studied sparsely. To determine the effect of steroid (deflazacort) on pain management using numerical rating scale (NRS) pain score at baseline and at 3-month follow-up.

A retrospective observational study was undertaken, recruiting patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia as per 2010 American College of Rheumatology guidelines and treated with the steroid, deflazacort 12 mg. Patients with missing details were excluded. Patients were categorized into negative, positive, and strongly positive anti-TPO Ab groups. Baseline and follow-up (3 months) pain score was compared across the groups. Reduction in pain was considered as a primary outcome variable.

The study included 128 participants with 98 (76.6%) females and 30 (23.4%) males. The age of the study population was 48±13.29 years. The proportion of hyper, hypo, and euthyroid was 10 (7.81%), 42 (32.81%), and 76 (59.38%), respectively. The proportion of participants with negative, positive, and strongly positive anti-TPO Ab levels was 41 (32.03)%, 50 (39.06%), and 37 (28.91%), respectively. Baseline pain score was 7.3±1.32 and 3-month follow-up was 4.7±2.46. Steroid response was found in 66 (51.6%). Negative and positive anti-TPO Ab had a 1-point reduction in pain score from baseline, p-value <0.001. The strongly positive group had 5 points reduction, p-value<0.05.

Fibromyalgia patients with thyroid autoimmunity responded well to short courses of steroids. Greater pain relief was observed among those who are strongly positive anti-TPO Ab group.