Fibromyalgia syndrome in patients with hepatitis C infection

Abstract

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FS) is characterized by widespread pain and tenderness at specific anatomic sites. Different theories have been proposed in the etiopathogenesis of this syndrome, and besides genetic, neuroendocrine, psychologic, and traumatic causes, infections have also been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of FS in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Ninety-five patients with chronic HCV infection and 95 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The 1990 American College of Rheumatology classification criteria were used for the diagnosis of FS. Tender point count, pain intensity, sleep disturbance, stiffness, headache, paresthesia, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and sicca- and Raynaud-like symptoms were assessed. Fibromyalgia was found in 18.9% of patients and 5.3% of healthy controls. Mean tender point count, pain intensity scored on a visual analog scale (VAS), sleep disturbance, stiffness, paresthesia, and fatigue were higher in the HCV group. No significant relationship was observed between the two groups regarding headache, IBS, and sicca- and Raynaud-like symptoms. In addition, mean tender point count and pain intensity scores were also significantly higher in HCV patients with FS than in control subjects with FS. All of the symptoms except stiffness were not statistically significant between the HCV and control groups with FS. Our results demonstrate a tendency toward higher prevalence of FS in patients with HCV infection. Besides various extrahepatic features, musculoskeletal disorders including fibromyalgia might be expected in the progression of HCV infection. Detailed examination of the patients helps to differentiate FS from other musculoskeletal complications of HCV infection. This will provide appropriate management approaches and better quality of life for them.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C among women with fibromyalgia syndrome

“…Kozanoglu ve ark. [7] kronik HCV enfeksiyonu olan 95 hastada FMS varlığını kontrol grubu ile karşılaştırmışlardır. Hasta grubunda %18.9, kontrol grubunda ise %5.3 oranında FMS saptanmıştır.…”

“…[7] çalışmalarında FMS saptanan HCV hastalarında, FMS saptanmayan hastalara göre ortalama HN sayısının daha yüksek olduğunu belirtmişlerdir. Benzer iki çalışmada da HN sayısı açısından adı geçen çalışmayı destekler sonuçlar bulunmuştur.…”

“…GAS skorları, HCV hastalarında kontrol grubundan daha yüksek saptanan çalışmalar mevcuttur. [7,22] Bizim çalışmamızda HCV ile enfekte hasta saptanmadığı için, HN sayısı ve GAS ile ilgili bir yorum yapma imkânımız olmadı.…”

“…[4,5] HCV hastaları ile yapılan çalışmalarda FMS prevalansı %5-19 oranında bulunmuştur. [6][7][8][9] Hepatit B taşıyıcılarında yapılan bir çalışmada ise sağlıklı kontrol grubuna göre FMS sıklığında artış saptanmıştır. [10] FMS tanısı almış hastalarda ise HBV ve HCV varlığını araştıran çalışmalar daha az sayıdadır ve elde edilen sonuçlar çelişkilidir.…”

Fibromyalgia Syndrome in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

“…Ifergane et al (16) reported that, FMS was found in 22% percent of female patients with migraine and, patients suffering from migraine-FMS had lower quality of life scores and higher levels of mental distress. Kozanoğlu et al (17) showed that the prevalence of FMS was 18.9% in patients with hepatitis C infection. Hüppe et al (18) found that the prevalence of FMS was 12.6% among patients with CLBP.…”