OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia (FM) association with autoimmune diseases has been widely reported in literature. Coeliac disease (CD) is a small intestine immune-mediated disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed patients. In recent years, the Internet and the non-medical press have reported a correlation between gluten-related disorders and fibromyalgia-like symptoms. The aim of our study was to verify a possible association between FM and CD, by assessing the prevalence of CD in a cohort of FM patients and vice versa. METHODS: 90 consecutive subjects from our Rheumatologic outpatient clinic who had been diagnosed with FM were serologically tested for CD and positive patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy to obtain duodenal biopsies. A second group of 114 consecutive subjects from our Coeliac Disease outpatient clinic were investigated for the presence of FM-like symptoms through a questionnaire. Patients reporting chronic widespread pain were addressed to a rheumatologist for further evaluation. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CD in our FM patients was identical to that expected in general population (around 1%). In our CD group 17 patients (14.9%) reported chronic widespread pain at the questionnaire and 13 (11.4%) satisfied ACR 1990 criteria for FM. Their symptoms had not been modified by GFD. CONCLUSIONS: A serological screening for CD is not recommended in FM patients but rather a case-finding strategy should be performed. At the same time, proposals of GFD in FM patients, in absence of a well-established diagnosis of CD, should be rigorously avoided.

Tovoli F, Giampaolo L, Caio G, Monti M, Piscaglia M, Frisoni M, et al. (2013). Fibromyalgia and coeliac disease: a media hype or an emerging clinical problem?. CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY, 31, 50-52.

Fibromyalgia and coeliac disease: a media hype or an emerging clinical problem?

TOVOLI, FRANCESCO;GIAMPAOLO, LUCA;CAIO, GIACOMO PIETRO ISMAELE;PISCAGLIA, MARIA;FRISONI, MAGDA;BOLONDI, LUIGI;VOLTA, UMBERTO
2013

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Fibromyalgia (FM) association with autoimmune diseases has been widely reported in literature. Coeliac disease (CD) is a small intestine immune-mediated disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed patients. In recent years, the Internet and the non-medical press have reported a correlation between gluten-related disorders and fibromyalgia-like symptoms. The aim of our study was to verify a possible association between FM and CD, by assessing the prevalence of CD in a cohort of FM patients and vice versa. METHODS: 90 consecutive subjects from our Rheumatologic outpatient clinic who had been diagnosed with FM were serologically tested for CD and positive patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy to obtain duodenal biopsies. A second group of 114 consecutive subjects from our Coeliac Disease outpatient clinic were investigated for the presence of FM-like symptoms through a questionnaire. Patients reporting chronic widespread pain were addressed to a rheumatologist for further evaluation. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of CD in our FM patients was identical to that expected in general population (around 1%). In our CD group 17 patients (14.9%) reported chronic widespread pain at the questionnaire and 13 (11.4%) satisfied ACR 1990 criteria for FM. Their symptoms had not been modified by GFD. CONCLUSIONS: A serological screening for CD is not recommended in FM patients but rather a case-finding strategy should be performed. At the same time, proposals of GFD in FM patients, in absence of a well-established diagnosis of CD, should be rigorously avoided.
2013
Tovoli F, Giampaolo L, Caio G, Monti M, Piscaglia M, Frisoni M, et al. (2013). Fibromyalgia and coeliac disease: a media hype or an emerging clinical problem?. CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY, 31, 50-52.
Tovoli F;Giampaolo L;Caio G;Monti M;Piscaglia M;Frisoni M;Bolondi L;Volta U
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/220300
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