Endocrine disorders in women with complex regional pain syndrome type I

Background The question of hormonal dysregulation in patients with CRPS I in whole was investigated very scantily. There are only a few studies concerning catecholamines, oestrogens and endorphins independently. Other hormones were studied in patients with different other chronic pain conditions. Considering the accumulation of sufficient knowledge about the role of disadaptation processes in CRPS I pathogenesis and the role of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian systems in the process of adaptation it was logical and consistent to define the role of hormonal dysregulation of these systems in patients with CRPS I. Objectives Our objective was to determine the role of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian systems in pathogenesis of complex regional pain syndrome type I (CRPS I) in women. Methods We investigated the pituitary gonadotropic function and the function of sex glands in women with CRPS I and healthy volunteers by measuring the plasma levels of estradiol (E2), follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and cortisol, and urinary excretion of 17‐ketosteroids, 17‐oxycocorticosteroids, epinephrine and norepinephrine. Results Women with CRPS I were characterized by the decreased content of oestrogens in the blood plasma and increased pituitary gonadotrophic function. The disturbed ratio of anabolic and catabolic steroids in women with CRPS I was detected due to lower adrenal cortex function. Conclusions In patients with CRPS I endocrine status is characterized by hormonal imbalances of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal systems. The changes in reproductive and adaptation homeostasis characterize CRPS I as a form of the disease of disadaptation. Significance This study determined the role of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal and hypothalamic‐pituitary‐ovarian systems in pathogenesis of CRPS I.