Seasonal symptom cluster

This is an intriguing aspect of CP/CPPS symptoms. Question is what it means? Many auto-immune diseases show seasonal patterns superimposed on shorter term flare-remission patterns.

• General seasonal variation with all symptoms worsening during winter and improving during summer.

• Cold/winter exacerbated micturition problems (cold induced diuresis?). Caused by cold seat, cold feets, immersion in cold water and shivering etc.

• Cold/winter tension-induced muscular pains and aches (myalgia)?

• Cold/winter induced arthralgia (joint aches, but joints are not swollen or reddish)?

• Cold/winter induced fibrinogen production? This is inferred from the fact that a majority of treatments have an anti-thrombotic component and research (e.g. 1-2).

• Winter related dryness of eyes and nose? (Note that winter air is drier than summer air due to lower absolute humidity. Average water content below zero degress Celsius is below 5 grams water per kg air.)

• The micturition problems do also seem to follow a cyclical pattern (duration of about three weeks?) of exacerbations and improvement.

• There may also be a weak circadian rhythm.

Andra bloggar om CPPS, kroniskt bäckenbottensmärtsyndrom, kronisk abakteriell prostatit, NIHIIIb, symptomkluster, biologiska rytmer
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(1) Rudnicka AR, Rumley A, Lowe, GDO, Strachan DP. Diurnal, Seasonal, and Blood-Processing Patterns in Levels of Circulating Fibrinogen, Fibrin D-Dimer, C-Reactive Protein, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, and von Willebrand Factor in a 45-Year-Old Population. Circulation 115:996-1003, 2007.
(2) Crawford VLS, McNerlan SE, Stout RW. Seasonal changes in platelets, fibrinogen and factor VII in elderly people. Age and Ageing 32:661-665, 2003.

Some examples of human chronobiology:
One study showed e.g. that cortisol peaked in december, FT3 (thyroid hormone) and growth hormone in april, insulin in february, while prolactin and parathyroid hormone showed no variation. (Del Ponte A, Guagnano MT, Sensi S. Time-Related Behaviour of Endocrine Secretion: Circannual Variations of FT3, Cortisol, Hgh and Serum Basal Insulin in Healthy Subjects. Chronobiol Int 1(4):297-300, 1984.)

(Minor update/edit march 4th 2009)