J Rheumatol
-
A 31-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), diabetes mellitus, and chronic renal failure developed digital ischemia, myocardial dysfunction, abnormal ECG, and elevated CPK levels. Radiographic studies revealed calcification of the peripheral vasculature although coronary angiography was unremarkable. ⋯ This case demonstrates that calciphylaxis can mimic the cardiovascular manifestations of SLE. Early differentiation of these disparate diseases is important because treatment strategies employed in SLE may exacerbate calciphylaxis.
-
To investigate relationships between sex, pain threshold and fibromyalgia (FM) symptoms in the general population. ⋯ Symptoms of FM are correlated with pain threshold in the general population, but tender point counts correlate better than dolorimetry. These 2 measures of pain threshold assay different but overlapping factors. Pain threshold is lower in women; and women have more FM symptoms. Decreased pain threshold correlates with all of the symptoms of FM, even in those who do not meet criteria for the syndrome. This suggests that decreased pain threshold, as measured by the tender point counts, is an intrinsically important aspect of patient distress, regardless of the extent and kind of concomitant disease; and that much can be learned about patients by employing this examination.