Daniel Clauw, MD

Fibromyalgia is a condition characterized by a history of diffuse musculoskeletal pain, and the finding of tenderness on examination. Epidemiologic studies suggest that this illness affects approximately 2% of the population, although the prevalence in females is much higher (3.4% of all females, >7% in those between the ages of 60-79).

Although fibromyalgia is defined by its musculoskeletal features, for some time it has been clear that there are a large number of other systemic and localized syndromes that occur commonly in individuals with this illness. There is a significant overlap between fibromyalgia and other systemic illnesses such as chronic fatigue, somatoform disorders, and other entities such as the Persian Gulf Syndrome. Examples of closely related localized or organ-specific conditions include migraine and tension headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, temporomandibular dysfunction, non-cardiac chest pain, myofascial pain syndrome, and a variety of genitourinary syndromes. These illnesses all occur more commonly in females, and can either be triggered or exacerbated by a variety of stressors, including physical trauma, immune stimulation, and emotional stress.