Fibromyalgia and autoimmunity

• Vol 10 • January 2008 Fibromyalgia and Autoimmune Diseases Fibromyalgia syndrome is a commonly encountered disorder characterized by chronic widespread musculoskeletal pain and related symptoms along with multiple painful tender points [1]. The pathogenesis of fibromyalgia is not entirely understood, although the current concept views the syndrome as the result of central nervous system malfunction resulting in amplification of pain transmission and interpretation [1]. Recent evidence suggests that genetic and environmental factors may play a role in the etiopathology of fibromyalgia and other related syndromes [1,2]. Fibromyalgia syndrome is common in patients with autoimmune disease and may be the source of many of the symptoms and much of the disability in these patients [3,4]. In this review we focus on the co-morbidity of fibromyalgia and autoimmune diseases, its prevalence and clinical implications.