Fibromyalgia in psoriatic arthritis patients responsible for worse clinical evaluations: Study

Fibromyalgia in psoriatic arthritis patients is responsible for worsened clinical evaluations, according to research findings. The researchers performed a cross-sectional study and investigated the presence of fibromyalgia in 73 psoriatic arthritis patients. Fibromyalgia was present in 13 patients.

All patients were submitted to several evaluations that included Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Dermatology Life Quality Index, the Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI), the Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (CPDAI), minimal disease activity (MDA), and the Disease Activity index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DPSA) scores.

Majority of patients – except one – with coexisting fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis were women. None of the patients met the minimal disease activity (MDA) criteria, but all the patients with psoriatic arthritis only did.

CPDAI and DAPSA scores were significantly higher in patients with fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis, than in patients who suffered just from psoriatic arthritis. HAQ, BASDAI, and LEI scores were also significantly worse in patients with fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis, when compared to those of patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis only.

All clinical evaluations were worse in patients with combined illnesses, revealing that psoriatic arthritis is negatively impacted by fibromyalgia.

Prevalence of fibromyalgia among psoriatic arthritis patients

Fibromyalgia has been linked to many other health conditions, including chronic fatigue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome. The link may stem from adrenal fatigue and vagus nerve dysfunction. Fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis may be linked as well, as outlined in a study looking at 78 individuals of which 34 were diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis.

Of these 38 psoriatic arthritis patients, 53 percent also had fibromyalgia, compared to only 4.3 percent among patients who did not have arthritis.

Higher rates of fibromyalgia have been seen in psoriatic arthritis with some studies showing a 17.8 percent prevalence while others showed 37.5 percent. Needless to say, fibromyalgia rates are much higher in psoriatic arthritis, compared to the general population, and it can contribute to worsened health and disease outcomes.

Fibromyalgia and psoriatic arthritis share common symptoms, including fatigue, sleep disturbances, limited range of motion, and numbness or tingling.

In order to properly diagnose one or the other, it’s important to determine the underlying cause of pain.