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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Differentiating Fibromyalgia from other diseases

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Fibromyalgia must be differentiated from other diseases that present with pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance, and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, chronic fatigue syndrome, spondyloarthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica.[1][2][3][4][5]

Differentiating Fibromyalgia from other Diseases

Differentiating Fibromyalgia from other Diseases

Fibromyalgia must be differentiated from other diseases that present with pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance, and symptoms of cognitive dysfunction and psychiatric disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, SLE, chronic fatigue syndrome, spondyloarthritis, and polymyalgia rheumatica.[1][2][3][4][5]

Disease Differentiating signs and symptoms Diagnostic findings
Fibromyalgia
  • All lab tests are normal
Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Markers of systemic inflammation (ESR, CRP) are typically elevated.
SLE
Chronic fatigue syndrome Fatigue plus 4 of the following symptoms:
  • Diagnosis of exclusions
  • Symptoms must present for more than 6 months
Spondyloarthritis
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Osteoarthritis
  • Localized joint pain
  • Restricted to affect joints
  • Older at onset
  • X-ray of the involved joints demonstrate degenerative changes
Hypothyroidism
  • TSH is elevated and free T4 is low.
Myopathaies (polymyositis and dermatomyositis)
Neuropathy
References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Goldenberg DL, Burckhardt C, Crofford L (2004). “Management of fibromyalgia syndrome”. JAMA. 292 (19): 2388–95. doi:10.1001/jama.292.19.2388. PMID 15547167.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Clauw DJ (2014). “Fibromyalgia: a clinical review”. JAMA. 311 (15): 1547–55. doi:10.1001/jama.2014.3266. PMID 24737367.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Borchers AT, Gershwin ME (2015). “Fibromyalgia: A Critical and Comprehensive Review”. Clin Rev Allergy Immunol. 49 (2): 100–51. doi:10.1007/s12016-015-8509-4. PMID 26445775.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Häuser W, Burgmer M, Köllner V, Schaefert R, Eich W, Hausteiner-Wiehle C, Henningsen P (2013). “[Fibromyalgia syndrome as a psychosomatic disorder – diagnosis and therapy according to current evidence-based guidelines]”. Z Psychosom Med Psychother (in German). 59 (2): 132–52. doi:10.13109/zptm.2013.59.2.132. PMID 23775553.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Eich W, Häuser W, Friedel E, Klement A, Herrmann M, Petzke F, Offenbächer M, Schiltenwolf M, Sommer C, Tölle T, Henningsen P (2008). “[Definition, classification and diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome]”. Z Rheumatol (in German). 67 (8): 665–6, 668–72, 674–6. doi:10.1007/s00393-008-0404-4. PMID 19050952.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]