Fibromyalgia is the name for a condition that typically includes widespread muscle pain, fatigue and abnormal sleep patterns. Until a few years ago, doctors called the condition fibrositis or muscular rheumatism and believed that for the most part, the condition was "all in the patient's head". Today, fibromyalgia is recognized by medical organizations as a genuine and serious problem.

The symptoms of fibromyalgia typically include pain in many muscles, and around ligaments and tendons, persistent fatigue, waking up feeling tired even after a full night's sleep, headaches, bouts of constipation and diarrhea, abdominal pain, painful menstrual periods, sensitivity to cold, numbness or tingling, and difficulty exercising.

Symptoms vary widely among patients and tend to come and go away over time. An illness, injury, cold weather or emotional stress may trigger a fibromyalgia episode or make ongoing symptoms worse.

A study at the Oregon Health Sciences University and Portland Adventist Hospital suggests hepatitis C may trigger fibromyalgia ("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. Bennett, Journal of Clinical Rheumatology, Vol. 2, No. 4, August 1996) . This study is the first to show a link between the two illnesses.

It is unknown why the hepatitis C virus and fibromyalgia may be linked, but the authors suggest 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.

Hepatitis C infection can present with rheumatic manifestations indistinguishable from rheumatoid arthritis. The predominant clinical findings include palmar tenosynovitis: small joint synovitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

HEPATITIS C INFECTION PRESENTING WITH RHEUMATIC MANIFESTATIONS: A MIMIC OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.

Lovy MR; Starkebaum G; Uberoi S; Division of Rheumatology, University of Washington, Seattle, USA. J Rheumatol, 1996 Jun, 23:6, 979-83

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical features of a group of patients presenting with rheumatic manifestations who were subsequently determined to have hepatitis C infection. METHODS: A case study of 19 consecutive patients referred to private practitioners in Tacoma and Federal Way, Washington, because of polyarthritis, polyarthralgia, or positive rheumatoid factor (RF) who were subsequently found to have hepatitis C. Patients were tested for hepatitis C when they met the following screening criteria: abnormal liver biochemical studies or history of transfusion, jaundice, or hepatitis. RESULTS: Risk factors for hepatitis C infection were present in 14 patients, including transfusions (8) or intravenous drug use (6). Eight patients gave a history of previous jaundice or hepatitis predating their articular complaints by intervals ranging from 3 mos to 23 yrs. Liver biochemical tests were normal in 6 patients. Serologic evidence of hepatitis B or human T lymphotrophic virus type II was present in 3 of 19 and 2 or 14 patients, respectively. Carpal tunnel syndrome (8 patients), palmar tenosynovitis (7 patients), fibromyalgia (6 patients), and nonerosive, nonprogressive arthritis typified the articular manifestations. Fifteen patients fulfilled diagnostic criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Three patients had small vessel skin vasculitis. The arthritis responded well to treatment with low dose prednisone and hydroxychloroquine. CONCLUSION: Hepatitis C infection can present with rheumatic manifestations indistinguishable from RA. The predominant clinical findings include palmar tenosynovitis, small joint synovitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.

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