Hepatitis C - Fibromyalgia link?

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Hepatitis C Virus Might Induce Fibromyalgia

By Nelle Nix Exclusive to SHN

Source: " Fibromyalgia: A prominent feature in patients with

musculoskeletal problems in chronic hepatitis C, A report of 12 patients, " by A.

Barkhuizen, G.S. Schoepflin, and R.M. , Journal of Clinical Rheumatology,

Vol. 2, No. 4, August 1996.

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October 17, 1996 -- A Portland, Ore. study suggests hepatitis C may trigger

fibromyalgia. The study is the first to show a link between the two illnesses.

Fibromyalgia often arises after a traumatic event or an illness. Several

infections have previously been proposed as potential inciters of fibromyalgia,

including Lyme disease and the human herpes virus-6.

Published in the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology's August issue, the 12 patient

study determined that the relationship between hepatitis C virus and

fibromyalgia followed three distinct patterns:

•In nine patients, fibromyalgia developed as a long-term complication of the

hepatitis, arising on average 13.4 years after the virus was acquired.

•In two patients, fibromyalgia arose simultaneously with the hepatitis C

infection.

•In one patient, pre-existing fibromyalgia was significantly worsened by the

hepatitis C.

Six of the 12 patients were diagnosed with fibromyalgia after initial

evaluations for musculoskeletal complaints. All had the chance of contracting

hepatitis C through either blood or body fluid exposure.

Three used intravenous blood products, one experienced an

occupational needle stick, three had tattoos, three used intravenous drugs, and

two engaged in promiscuous sexual practices.

The reason for the link between hepatitis C virus and fibromyalgia is unknown.

The authors propose, however, that hepatitis C causes chronic activation of the

immune system that leads to muscle aching, fatigue, mental changes, sleep

abnormalities, and alterations of the neuroendocrine system. The patients with

both hepatitis C and fibromyalgia could be distinguished from most other

patients with fibromyalgia alone because they had symptoms unusual to

fibromyalgia. These symptoms included synovitis (inflammation of the membrane

around a joint, bursa, or tendon) and vasculitis (inflammation of a blood or

lymph vessel). In addition, laboratory findings pointed to a disease process

other than fibromyalgia.

The study was conducted at Oregon Health Sciences University and Portland

Adventist Hospital.

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