Incomplete fibromyalgia syndrome patients should be managed, treated as those with full-blown syndrome

Patients with incomplete fibromyalgia syndrome should be clinically treated as though they have the full-blown version of the condition, despite having milder symptoms, in order to better manage symptoms in the clinical setting, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology.

After examining 600 consecutive patients admitted to their rheumatology clinic, researchers concluded that 112 patients did fulfill the requirements outlined by the 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) — which requires patients to be in widespread pain and 11 tender points over a possible 18 points on the body — in order to be diagnosed with the condition.

The researchers suggested patients who have one requirement but not the other should be classified as having incomplete fibromyalgia syndrome (IFMS).

IFMS and FMS patients were similar between groups, but there were generally fewer and less frequent symptoms observed in the IFMS group. Researchers noted there was no significant difference in age, race or education between the two groups.

Disclosure: Dr. Yunus reports receiving speakers’ fees from the Forest Laboratory.

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Source:

Yunus M. J Clin Rheumatol. 2012. doi:10.1097/RHU.0b013e318247b7da.