"Chronic Lyme disease" as the incorrect diagnosis in patients with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a large number of patients referred with persistent symptoms thought to represent chronic Lyme disease.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of nearly 800 patients referred with persisting nonspecific musculoskeletal and/or neurologic symptoms thought to represent chronic Lyme disease.


RESULTS
Seventy-seven patients were found to have fibromyalgia, not ongoing Lyme disease, as the explanation of their chronic symptoms. Many had received multiple courses of antibiotic therapy for symptoms of fibromyalgia mistakenly attributed to chronic Lyme disease. No patient reported permanent and/or total resolution of fibromyalgia symptoms following antibiotic therapy. Appropriate therapy for fibromyalgia in those who remained compliant, however, was often effective in improving some if not all of the chronic symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Fibromyalgia is a treatable and potentially curable disorder, and should be considered in the evaluation of patients with "refractory Lyme disease."
Hsu
V M
VM
Department of Medicine, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick 08903-0019.
Patella
S J
SJ
Sigal
L H
LH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008193:Lyme Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents