Fibromyalgia and Parvovirus Infection

✍ Scribed by Lawrence J. Leventhal; Stanley J. Naides; Bruce Freundlich

• Book ID: 102750578
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1991
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 593 KB
• Volume: 34
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780341018

✦ Synopsis

An infectious cause of fibromyalgia (FM) has been hypothesized based upon the observed similarity of this entity and chronic fatigue syndrome. Three patients developed symptoms of FM after documented episodes of acute parvovirus B19 infections. B19 antibody determinations were obtained approximately 1 month after the symptoms began; both IgM and IgG titers were positive at that time. All 3 patients met criteria for FM. Polysomnography performed on 2 of the patients revealed profound alpha-wave intrusion throughout nonrapid eye movement sleep. A more careful search for viral infections in FM patients whose symptoms appear following a "flu-like" illness appears warranted.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by chronic pain and stiffness in skeletal muscle and soft tissue (1). Painful "tender points" over muscles and tendinous insertions are a typical feature. These