RESEARCH - RA and fibromyalgia: a frequent unrelated association complicating disease management

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J Rheumatol. 2008 Dec 15.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia: A Frequent Unrelated

Association Complicating Disease Management.

Coury F, Rossat A, Tebib A, Letroublon MC, Gagnard A, Fantino B, Tebib JG.

From the Service de Rhumatologie, Centre Hospitalier Lyon Sud, Lyon;

UFR Sciences, Université Lyon I, Lyon; and LIRIS-MAD2D, UMR 5205 CNRS,

Bat. Braconnier, Université Lyon I, Lyon, France.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the 28-joint Disease Activity Score

(DAS28) in evaluating disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

associated with fibromyalgia (FM). In this situation, because of the

weight of the subjective measures included in the DAS28 equation, the

patient's status may be overestimated, leading to inappropriate

treatment. We analyze the relationship between RA and FM and discuss

whether the association is random or a marker of poor prognosis.

METHODS: A questionnaire, developed when biologic therapies were

introduced, was administered and the results analyzed in a

consecutive, female outpatient population including 105 patients with

RA, 49 with RA and FM (RAF), and 28 with FM. Psychosocial

characteristics, disease presentation, and radiographic joint

destruction evaluation were compared in the 3 populations.

RESULTS: The presentation of RA was the same in patients with RA and

RAF, but the 2 populations differed by socioprofessional

characteristics, significantly higher disease activity in patients

with RAF, and significantly more severe joint destruction in patients

with RA. The RAF group was similar to the FM control population in

socioprofessional and some physical characteristics. Regression

analysis using the DAS28 measures differed significantly in the weight

allowed to 28-joint counts for pain and swelling, but the constant

factor was higher in patients with RAF.

CONCLUSION: DAS28 overestimated objective RA severity in patients who

also had FM. The association between RA and FM does not appear to be a

marker of worse prognosis, but rather a fortuitous association between

the 2 diseases and one that may afford these patients some protection

against joint destruction.

PMID: 19132794

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19132794

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