الفهرس 
Introduction and aim of the workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
FM is a chronic musculoskeletal disorder characterized by widespread pain, exquisite tenderness at specific anatomic sites (TPs), and other clinical manifestation such as fatigue, sleep disturbance and IBS. This study was performed with the aim of: (1) study the pattern of FM in the rheumatology outpatient clinic at Mansoura University Hospital. (2) assess its different clinical and psychological aspects. (3) determine its impact on the patient’s functional ability and the quality of life. (4) review the clinical pattern of FM in our patients and its significance to the control groups and the published international report results. This study was conducted on: 150 patients with FM (80 with PFM, 70 with SCFM) and 80 control subjects (20 healthy, 20 with WSP, 20 with SLE, 20 with RA). All the patients and controls were selected from the rheumatology outpatient clinic. FM patients were diagnosed according to ACR 1990 criteria of FM. This study has shown that: The clinical characteristics and patients perceptions in Egyptian PFM patients are very similar to those have been described in the international studies (human reaction to suffering has some common features worldwide). But some symptoms of PFM patients are present at higher rates in this study than others, some symptoms were presents at lower rates than others. This may be due to difference in ethnic group, socioeconomic status and cultures. Psychological distress is intrinsically related to FM. PFM patients appears to have distinct features, more physical disabilities and functional limitation compared to those with WSP who do not meet FM criteria. The presence of FM in SLE accounts for many of the symptoms, low (worse) quality of life and much of functional disability, but it does not affect the disease activity. The presence of FM in RA may constitute a marker of a worse prognosis for functional disability and quality of life. Its presence is associated with more disease activity, but no effect on disease severity.