Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

To detect and compare the frequency of secondary fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) in different rheumatic diseases; rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (SSc) and Behçets disease (BD) and to study the relation of FMS to the clinical manifestations, laboratory features, disease activity and/or damage as well as the quality of life (QoL). The study group included 160 patients (50 RA, 50 SLE, 30 SSc and 30 BD) and 141 age and sex matched controls for each corresponding disease. All patients were subjected to full history taking, physical examination, relevant investigations, assessment of disease activity using disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) for RA, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) for SSc and BD current activity form (BDCAF), functional status assessment using health assessment questionnaire II (HAQII) in RA, systemic lupus international collaborating clinics / damage Index (SLICC/DI) in SLE and severity scale in SSc. Quality of Life (QoL) scale was also recorded. The frequency of FMS was determined using 2010 ACR criteria. Severity in FMS cases was performed using the revised fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) score. In the RA, SLE, SSc and BD patients, FMS was found in 14%, 18%, 6.67% and 3.33% respectively compared to their corresponding controls (2.1%, 3%, 3.3% and 0% respectively). In RA patients, DAS28 was significantly higher in the RA patients with FMS (p=0.009) and significantly correlated with both Widespread Pain Index (WPI) (p=0.011) and Symptom Severity (SS) scale p=0.012

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