Abstract
Background: The pathogenesis of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) has not been fully elucidated, but the relationship between FMS and multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), determined by symptomatic sensitivity to common agents encountered in modern life, has been discussed.
Methods: To evaluate MCS among patients with primary FMS (pFMS) and various inflammatory diseases, the quick environment exposure and sensitivity inventory (QEESI) was examined in 124 patients: 29 with pFMS, 18 with Sjögren syndrome (SS), 13 with Behçet disease (BD), 33 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 14 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and 17 with other diseases (OD; various inflammatory diseases without FMS). Secondary FMS were found in 9 patients with SS, 12 with BD, 23 with SLE, 8 with SSc.
Results: QEESI revealed higher scores among pFMS, SS, BD, SLE, and SSc than OD patients. The values for Symptom Severity were 51.1±18.6 (pFMS), 32.8±20.9 (SS), 45.5±21.2 (BD), 34.8±22.3 (SLE), and 25.6±14.4 (SSc), and were significantly higher as compared to that in OD (13.8±11.1). The scores of Chemical Inhalant Intolerance were 48.1±22.0 (pFMS), 27.0±26.6 (SS), 45.8±23.2 (BD), 39.7±28.1 (SLE), and 23.9±12.6 (SSc), and were significantly higher than that in OD (and 6.7±6.0). Patients with pFMS, SS, BD, SLE, and SSc had higher values of Other Intolerance and Life Impact than the OD patients. Among the groups, pFMS and BD patients had high scores. Most of the patients with BD had fibromyalgia symptoms. The patients with primary and secondary FMS had significantly higher scores of QEESI than patients without fibromyalgia symptoms.
Conclusion: MCS may be commonly involved in the pathogenesis of pFMS, SS, BD, SLE, and SSc, suggesting that chemical agent-free conditions may improve various symptoms of patients with FMS and MCS.
