[Diagnosis and clinical signs of fibromyalgia].
According to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR 1990) fibromyalgia can be classified as a complex of clinical symptoms. It is characterised by widespread muscle pain, and pain in at least 11 out of 18 defined so-called tender points. The widespread muscle pain must be present for at least 3 months. For the diagnosis of fibromyalgia many other rheumatological, neurological and psychiatric diseases have to be excluded; additional autonomic or functional symptoms are usual. Routine laboratory or radiological examinations yield normal results. From a pathogenetic point of view endocrine disturbances and psychosocial stress factors are found. In most cases the clinical course shows a slow development of generalised pain.
Conrad
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Abt. Anästhesiologie, Schmerzambulanz, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover. conrad.ingomar@mh-hannover.de
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans