A PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF 118 PATIENTS WITH THE FIBROMYALGIA SYNDROME - PREVALENCE OF RAYNAUDS-PHENOMENON, SICCA SYMPTOMS, ANA, LOW COMPLEMENT, AND IG DEPOSITION AT THE DERMAL-EPIDERMAL JUNCTION

  • 1 April 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (2) , 368-373
Abstract
One hundred eighteen consecutive patients with fibromyalgia were evaluated prospectively. Immunoglobulin deposits at the dermal-epidermal junction were found in only 4 of 36 patients. Twelve patients (14%) had at least one positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. Eight patients (7%) had at least one low C3. Thirty-five patients (30%) has a history of Raynaud''s phenomenon and 22 (18%) had sicca symptoms, defined as symptomatic dry eyes and mouth and a positive Schirmer test. The 35 patients with Raynaud''s phenomenon had a significantly higher prevalence of sicca symptoms, positive ANA or low C3 compared to the 83 patients who did not have Raynaud''s phenomenon. Thus, a subset of patients with fibromyalgia may have features suggestive of a systemic connective tissue disorder.