Fibromyalgia in patients with irritable bowel syndrome : An association with the severity of the intestinal disorder

Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are functional disorders in which altered somatic and or visceral perception thresholds have been found. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of FM in a group of patients with IBS and the possible association of FM with pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of colorectal disease 2001-08, Vol.16 (4), p.211-215
Main Authors: LUBRANO, Ennio, IOVINO, Paola, TREMOLATERRA, Fabrizio, PARSONS, Wendy J, CIACCI, Carolina, MAZZACCA, Gabriele
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biological and medical sciences
Colonic Diseases, Functional - complications
Female
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia - complications
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Humans
Irritable bowel syndrome
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Other diseases. Semiology
Pain Measurement
Prescription drugs
Severity of Illness Index
Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus
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Summary:Fibromyalgia (FM) syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are functional disorders in which altered somatic and or visceral perception thresholds have been found. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of FM in a group of patients with IBS and the possible association of FM with patterns and severity of the intestinal disorder. One hundred thirty consecutive IBS patients were studied. The IBS was divided into four different patterns according to the predominant bowel symptom and into three levels of severity using a functional severity index. All patients underwent rheumatological evaluation for number of positive tender points, number of tender and swollen joints, markers of inflammation, and presence of headache and weakness. Moreover, patients' assessments of diffuse pain, mood and sleep disturbance, anxiety, and fatigue were also measured on a visual analogue scale. The diagnosis of FM was made based on American College of Rheumatology classification criteria. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis. Fibromyalgia was found in 20% of IBS patients. No statistical association was found between the presence of FM and the type of IBS but a significant association was found between the presence of FM and severity of the intestinal disorder. The presence of FM in IBS patients seems to be associated only with the severity of IBS. This result confirms previous studies on the association between the two syndromes.
ISSN:0179-1958
1432-1262
DOI:10.1007/s003840100299