Fibromyalgia in familial Mediterranean fever.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether chronic lower body pain in a subpopulation of patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is due directly to the musculoskeletal manifestations of FMF or whether they are connected to mechanical problems in the low back and leg/foot or to other factors operative in fibromyalgia (FM).


METHODS
In 93 consecutive patients with FMF a point count of 14 tender points (TP) was conducted by thumb palpation. Tenderness thresholds were assessed in some of the TP and of control point sites by Chatillon dolorimeter.


RESULTS
In female patients with FMF dolorimeter thresholds of fibrositic and control point sites were significantly lower than in male patients with FMF (p < 0.004). Also patients with FMF with back pain and foot/leg pain are more tender than patients with FMF without this characteristic (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The detection of FM and definition of tenderness thresholds is relevant to this disease, since musculoskeletal complaints are common in this group of patients but not always explained by objective findings.
Heller Institute of Medical Research, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
P
P
Langevitz
D
D
Buskila
R
R
Finkelstein
N
N
Zaks
L
L
Neuman
S
S
Sukenik
H A
HA
Smythe
M
M
Pras
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D018499:Linear Energy Transfer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D017288:Pain Threshold; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012727:Sex Characteristics