Der Internist
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Fibromyalgia is a common syndrome of unknown etiology characterized by chronic widespread pain and poly-symptomatic autonomic disturbances and often mental features. The American College of Rheumatology's classification criteria define fibromyalgia by widespread pain and 11 of 18 tender points. Fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion as long as stand none laboratory or technical tests. ⋯ The goal of therapy in fibromyalgia is pain, reduced physical function and sleep disturbance. Actual evidence of effects of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions are summarized. Tricyclic agents, aerobic exercises, patient education and combined therapies can reduce effectively symptoms and disability.
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Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, inclusion body myositis and myositis overlap syndromes are systemic immune disorders of unknown origin with muscle weakness and elevated values of creatinkinase in the serum. Muscle biopsy is pivotal for a proper clinical diagnosis. Extramuscular findings at the skin, the joints or internal organs (lung, heart) are characteristic for the different clinical presentations of dermato- or polymyositis and are usually absent in inclusion body myositis. ⋯ Especially in polymyositis an appropriate differential diagnosis of infectious, endocrine, metabolic or neuromuscular causes of muscle disease is necessary. Glucocorticosteroids are the first choice of treatment in dermato- or polymyositis. Methotraxate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamamide, i.v. immunoglobulins and other drugs are used in diseases courses with continuous high dose requirement of corticosteroids.