CHRONIC RELAPSING MYALGIA (? POST VIRAL): CLINICAL, HISTOLOGICAL, AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES

Abstract
Two patients with persistent myalgia characterised by onset after an ill‐defined systemic illness, marked fluctuations in the severity of the symptoms, and normal neuromuscular examination with the exception of variable muscle tenderness on deep palpation, may have a forme fruste of myalgic encephalomyelitis. Differentiation from psychogenic muscle pain is important in management. Muscle histology revealed non‐specific Type II fibre atrophy. Mitochondrial respiration was assayed polarographically in intact organelles in vitro and revealed a mild depression of State 3 respiration rates with Site I and Site II substrates. (Aust NZ J Med 1985; 15: 305–308.)