Pain in systemic connective tissue diseases.
Pain is frequent in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs), particularly those affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in which it is virtually ubiquitous and can have different causes. The SLE classification criteria include pain associated with musculoskeletal involvement, which are frequently the initial symptom of SLE and can include arthralgia, arthritis and/or myalgia. Chronic widespread pain, the cornerstone of fibromyalgia (FM), is also frequently associated with CTDs. Chronic pain has a considerable impact on mental health, and the professional and family lives of patients. It can be due to many disorders, but there are few reports concerning its prevalence during the course of other diseases. It is essential to identify the origin of pain in CTDs in order to avoid dangerous over-treatment in patients with co-existing widespread pain. Effective pain management is a primary goal of patient care, although it has not been investigated in detail in patients with SSc.
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy. Electronic address: manuela.difranco@uniroma1.it.
Manuela
M
Di Franco
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
Laura
L
Bazzichi
Department of Clinical Neurophysiology and Pain Rehabilitation Unit (RC), Foundation Salvatore Maugeri IRCCS, Montescano, Italy.
Roberto
R
Casale
Rheumatology Unit, L.Sacco University Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Piercarlo
P
Sarzi-Puttini
IRCCS Galeazzi Orthopedic Institute, Milan, Italy.
Fabiola
F
Atzeni
D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*
Chronic pain; Connective tissue diseases; Inflammatory pain; SLE; SSc