Category: Fibromyalgia

Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome and primary fibromyalgia syndrome in The Netherlands

Erratum in: Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 1997 Sep 13;141(37):2686.

 

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and of primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) in the Netherlands.

DESIGN: Questionnaire.

SETTING: Department of Medical Psychology, University Hospital Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

METHOD: A questionnaire was mailed to all the 6657 general practitioners in the Netherlands in order to inform them of the existence of CFS and to ask them if they had any CFS or PFS patients in their practices.

RESULTS: Sixty percent (n = 4027) of the general practitioners returned the questionnaire. Of all the general practitioners, 27% said they had no CFS patients, 23% said they had 1 CFS patient, while 21% had 2 CFS patients, and 29% said they had 3 or more CFS patients in their practice. Concerning PFS the results were 17% (no PFS patients), 18%, 18% and 47%, respectively. With a mean practice of 2486 patients per general practice, the estimated prevalence of CFS was 112 per 100,000 and that of PFS 157 per 100,000 persons. Of the CFS patients 81% were women and 55% were 25-44 years old; for PFS these figures were 87% and 48% respectively.

CONCLUSION: Extrapolation of the study results indicates that there are at least 17,000 CFS patients and 24,000 PFS patients in the Netherlands. The found prevalence is probably an under-estimation.

 

Source: Bazelmans E, Vercoulen JH, Galama JM, van Weel C, van der Meer JW, Bleijenberg G. Prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome and primary fibromyalgia syndrome in The Netherlands. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 1997 Aug 2;141(31):1520-3. [Article in Dutch] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9543739

 

Chronic pain and fatigue syndromes: overlapping clinical and neuroendocrine features and potential pathogenic mechanisms

Abstract:

Patients with unexplained chronic pain and/or fatigue have been described for centuries in the medical literature, although the terms used to describe these symptom complexes have changed frequently. The currently preferred terms for these syndromes are fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, names which describe the prominent clinical features of the illness without any attempt to identify the cause.

This review delineates the definitions of these syndromes, and the overlapping clinical features. A hypothesis is presented to demonstrate how genetic and environmental factors may interact to cause the development of these syndromes, which we postulate are caused by central nervous system dysfunction. Various components of the central nervous system appear to be involved, including the hypothalamic pituitary axes, pain-processing pathways, and autonomic nervous system. These central nervous system changes lead to corresponding changes in immune function, which we postulate are epiphenomena rather than the cause of the illnesses.

 

Source: Clauw DJ, Chrousos GP. Chronic pain and fatigue syndromes: overlapping clinical and neuroendocrine features and potential pathogenic mechanisms. Neuroimmunomodulation. 1997 May-Jun;4(3):134-53. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9500148

 

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain syndrome

Abstract:

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia continues to generate heated debate. The presence of multiple lifetime psychiatric diagnoses was not intrinsically related to fibromyalgia but rather to the decision of patients to seek specialty medical care. Better outcome measures in fibromyalgia were tested. Neurally mediated hypotension may be associated with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Treatment of patients with fibromyalgia and CFS continues to be of limited success, although the role of multidisciplinary group intervention appears promising. Two position papers focused on the adverse aspects of the medicolegal issues in fibromyalgia and CFS.

 

Source: Goldenberg DL. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain syndrome. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1997 Mar;9(2):135-43. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9135918

 

Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Twelve outpatients, all women, who fulfilled the criteria for both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome were rated on 15 items of the Comprehensive Psychopathological Rating Scale (CPRS-15). These items were chosen to constitute a proper neurasthenic subscale.

Blood laboratory levels were generally normal. The most obvious finding was that, in all the patients, the homocysteine (HCY) levels were increased in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). There was a significant positive correlation between CSF-HCY levels and fatiguability, and the levels of CSF-B12 correlated significantly with the item of fatiguability and with CPRS-15.

The correlations between vitamin B12 and clinical variables of the CPRS-scale in this study indicate that low CSF-B12 values are of clinical importance. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a deficient remethylation of HCY and is therefore probably contributing to the increased homocysteine levels found in our patient group.

We conclude that increased homocysteine levels in the central nervous system characterize patients fulfilling the criteria for both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

 

Source: Regland B, Andersson M, Abrahamsson L, Bagby J, Dyrehag LE, Gottfries CG. Increased concentrations of homocysteine in the cerebrospinal fluid in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Scand J Rheumatol. 1997;26(4):301-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9310111

 

Somatomedin C (insulin-like growth factor I) levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Abstract:

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disorder clinically quite similar to fibromyalgia syndrome, and it is of interest to examine if these two syndromes have pathogenetic as well as clinical features in common. Somatomedin C levels have been found to be lower in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome than in healthy controls. An attractive hypothesis relating sleep disturbance, altered somatotropic neuroendocrine function and fibromyalgia symptoms has been put forward as a plausible pathogenic mechanism for fibromyalgia syndrome. We therefore sought to investigate the level of somatomedin C in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Somatomedin C levels were determined by radioimmunoassay in frozen serum specimens from 49 patients with CFS and 30 healthy blood donor control subjects of similar age and gender. Somatomedin C levels were higher in patients with CFS than in healthy control subjects (255.3 +/- 68.5 vs 211.9 +/- 76.2, P = 0.01). There was no effect of gender, use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or tricyclic drugs on levels of somatomedin C. There was a tendency for somatomedin C levels to fall with age.

In contrast to patients with fibromyalgia, in whom levels of somatomedin C have been found to be reduced, levels in patients with CFS were found to be elevated. Thus, despite the clinical similarities between these two conditions, they may be associated with different abnormalities of sleep and/or of the somatotropic neuroendocrine axis.

 

Source: Bennett AL, Mayes DM, Fagioli LR, Guerriero R, Komaroff AL. Somatomedin C (insulin-like growth factor I) levels in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. J Psychiatr Res. 1997 Jan-Feb;31(1):91-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9201651

 

Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: similarities and differences

Abstract:

CFS and FM are clinical conditions characterized by a variety of nonspecific symptoms including prominent fatigue, myalgia, and sleep disturbances. There are no diagnostic studies or widely accepted, pathogenic, explanatory models for either illness. Despite remarkably different diagnostic criteria, CFS and FM have many demographic and clinical similarities. More specifically, few differences exist in the domains of symptoms, examination findings, laboratory tests, functional status, psychosocial features, and psychiatric disorders. FM appears to represent an additional burden of suffering among those with CFS, however, underscoring the importance of recognizing concurrent CFS and FM. Further clarification of the similarities (and differences) between CFS and FM may be useful in studies of prognosis and help define subsets of patients who may benefit from specific therapeutic interventions.

 

Source: Buchwald D. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome: similarities and differences. Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 1996 May;22(2):219-43. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9157484

 

Insulin-like growth factor-I (somatomedin C) levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Fibromyalgia (FM) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are similar conditions characterized by substantial fatigue, diffuse myalgias, sleep disturbances and a variety of other symptoms. Many patients with CFS meet strict criteria for FM. Recently, low insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels have been demonstrated in patients with FM, suggesting that disruption of the growth hormone-IGF-I axis might explain the link between the muscle pain and poor sleep. Our goal was to determine whether IGF-I levels are decreased in CFS, and whether such findings are restricted to patients with concurrent FM.

METHODS: Radioimmunoassays were used to determine serum concentrations of IGF-I and its binding protein, (IGFBP-3). Subjects were 3 patients seen in a referral clinic for chronic fatigue: 15 patients with CFS, 15 who met criteria for both CFS and FM (CFS-FM), 27 with FM alone; and 15 healthy control (HC) subjects.

RESULTS: Patients and control subjects had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. No significant differences were observed among any of the 3 patient groups and control subjects in the mean concentration of either IGF-I or IGFBP-3. Likewise, the proportion of subjects with values above or below the laboratory’s reference range did not differ for IGF-I or IGFBP-3.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest the disruption of the growth hormone-IGF-I axis previously demonstrated in FM patients is not evident in a referral population of patients with CFS, CFS-FM, or FM.

 

Source: Buchwald D, Umali J, Stene M. Insulin-like growth factor-I (somatomedin C) levels in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 1996 Apr;23(4):739-42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8730136

 

Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain

Abstract:

The prevalence of fibromyalgia in the general population was found to be 2% and increased with age. Multiple traumatic factors, including sexual and physical abuse, may be important initiating events. The most important pathophysiologic studies in fibromyalgia included evidence of altered blood flow to the brain and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal dysfunction. The prevalence of chronic fatigue syndrome is much less than that of fibromyalgia. Epidemiologic studies demonstrated that chronic fatigue and symptoms of fibromyalgia are distributed as continuous variables in the general population. No association between chronic fatigue and initial infections was seen in primary care practices.

 

Source: Goldenberg DL. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and myofascial pain. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 1996 Mar;8(2):113-23. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8732795

 

High incidence of antibodies to 5-hydroxytryptamine, gangliosides and phospholipids in patients with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndrome and their relatives: evidence for a clinical entity of both disorders

Abstract:

The fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is one of the most frequent rheumatic disorders showing a wide spectrum of different symptoms. An association with the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has been discussed. Recently, a defined autoantibody pattern consisting of antibodies to serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), gangliosides and phospholipids was found in about 70% of the patients with FMS. We were therefore interested in seeing whether patients with CFS express similar humoral immunoreactivity.

Sera from 42 CFS patients were analysed by ELISA for these antibodies, and the results were compared with those previously observed in 100 FMS patients. 73% of the FMS and 62% of the CFS patients had antibodies to serotonin, and 71% or 43% to gangliosides, respectively. Antibodies to phospholipids could be detected in 54% of the FMS and 38% of the CFS patients. 49% of FMS and 17% of the CFS patients had all three antibodies in parallel, 70% and 55%, respectively had at least two of these antibody types. 21% of FMS and 29% of CFS patients were completely negative for these antibodies. Antibodies to 5-HT were closely related with FMS/CFS while antibodies to gangliosides and phospholipids could also be detected in other disorders.

The observation that family members of CFS and FMS patients also had these antibodies represents an argument in favour of a genetic predisposition. These data support the concept that FMS and CFS may belong to the same clinical entity and may manifest themselves as ‘psycho-neuro-endocrinological autoimmune diseases’.

 

Source: Klein R, Berg PA. High incidence of antibodies to 5-hydroxytryptamine, gangliosides and phospholipids in patients with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia syndrome and their relatives: evidence for a clinical entity of both disorders. Eur J Med Res. 1995 Oct 16;1(1):21-6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9392689

 

Fibromyalgia syndrome and myofascial pain syndrome. Do they exist?

Abstract:

“It is in the healing business that the temptations of junk science are the strongest and the controls against it the weakest.” Despite their subjective nature, these syndromes (particularly MPS) have little reliability and validity, and advocates paint them as “objective.” Despite a legacy of poor-quality science, enthusiasts continue to cite small, methodologically flawed studies purporting to show biologic variables for these syndromes. Despite a wealth of traditional pain research, disciples continue to ignore the placebo effect, demonstrating a therapeutic hubris despite studies showing a dismal natural history for FS. In reviewing the literature on MPS and FS, F.M.R. Walshe’s sage words come to mind that the advocates of these syndromes are “better armed with technique than with judgment.” A sympathic observer might claim that labeling patients with monikers of nondiseases such as FS and MPS may not be such a bad thing. After all, there is still a stigma for psychiatric disease in our society, and even telling a sufferer that this plays only a partial role may put that patient on the defensive. Labeling may have iatrogenic consequences, however, particularly in the setting of the work place. Furthermore, review of a typical support group newsletter gives ipso facto proof of this noxious potential. The author of a flyer stuffed inside the newsletter complains that getting social security and disability benefits for “the invisible disability” can be “an uphill battle. But don’t loose (sic) hope.” Apparently the “seriousness of the condition” is not appreciated by the medical community at large, and “clinician bias may well be the largest threat,” according to Boston epidemiologist Dr. John Mason. Sufferers are urged to trek to their local medical library and pull four particular articles claiming FS patients have more “stress,” “daily hassles,” and difficulty working compared with arthritis patients. If articles can’t be located, patients are told to ask their lawyers for help. Although “Chronic Fatigue Syndrome” and FS are not considered by everyone to be the same malady, the “National Institute of Health (sic) has lumped these two conditions together. This could work in your favor.” (A U.S. political advocacy packet is available for $8, but a list of U.S. senators with Washington, DC addresses is freely provided.) These persons see themselves as victims worthy of a star appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show. A sense of bitterness emerges; one literally bed-bound Texas homemaker writes in Parents magazine that “Some doctors may give up and tell you that you are a hypochondriac.”(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

 

Source: Bohr TW. Fibromyalgia syndrome and myofascial pain syndrome. Do they exist? Neurol Clin. 1995 May;13(2):365-84. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7643831