A study of the pattern of primary fibromyalgia

Abstract EN

This study was carried out on 30 patients with primary fibromyalgia.

They were diagnosed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 1990 criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

All patients were subjected to full history taking and clinical examination.

Laboratory investigations included: complete blood picture, ESR, rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), creatine phosphokinase (CPK), tri-iodothyroxin (T3) and total thyroxin (T4).

Radiological examination, psychological assessment using the Anxiety-Depression questionnaire and EEG during awakening were done.

The results of clinical data showed that pain and easy fatigability are the commonest symptoms (100 %) followed by post-exertional muscle pain (90 %) and morning stiffness in (63.3 %) of patients.

As regards the neurological aspect of our patients, the results revealed that sleep disturbance (83.3 %), parasthesias (70 %) and tension headache (63.3 %) were the commonest.

We found that while psychological factors may be important in most patients with fibromyalgia, the presence of a psychopathologic condition is not mandatory for the persistence of fibromyalgia.There was a significant increase in some symptoms with psychological disturbances and these symptoms were morning stiffness, breathlessness, chest pain, parasthesias, tremors and hyperhydrosis.