DOES PRIMARY FIBROMYALGIA EXIST?

Twenty-one of 25 consecutive primary fibromyalgia or fibrositispatients, identified during a 5-year period in a tertiary careday-ward for pain syndromes, were re-examined. Fifteen fulfilledcriteria for fibromyalgia but unexpectedly, all cases had eitherpsychiatric disturbance or thyroid dysfunction. Of the fourpatients not seen at follow-up, two had developed neuro-' logicaldiseases, another rheumatoid arthritis and one other hypothyroidism.Thus, after 5 years no patient fulfilled the criteria for primaryfibromyalgia. Women occupied as manual workers were over-represented.Most patients reported beneficial effects of physiotherapy.None of the patients has been able to return to full time work KEY WORDS: Pain, Thyroid disorders, Psychiatric dysfunction, Occupation, Muscle     

ELECTROLYTES IN NAILS ANALYSED BY X-RAY MICROANALYSIS IN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY Considerations on a New Method for the Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis

ABSTRACT. Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have an increased concentration of sodium in their nails. Hitherto, only neutron activation analysis has been considered for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis by analysis of electrolytes in nails. It has been thoroughly tested methodologically and clinically. However, the intrinsic advantages of X-ray microanalysis and the results obtained in this study suggest that this method, after further testing, may be a useful diagnostic aid for cystic fibrosis. In comparison with neutron activation analysis, X-ray micro-analysis has the advantage of simultaneously giving the concentrations of several elements and may be accessible at any hospital with an electron microscope fitted with the necessary equipment. Nails of CF-patients are here shown to have increased concentrations of Na, K and Cl, which will make the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis more reliable. The possibility of using sulphur as a reference element may eliminate the weighing procedure necessary in neutron activation analysis.     

INCREASED SERUM CONCENTRATIONS OF CARTILAGE OLIGOMERIC MATRIX PROTEIN. A PROGNOSTIC MARKER IN EARLY RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Two cartilage specific macromolecules, cartilage oligomericmatrix protein (COMP) and proteoglycan, were quantified by immunoassayin sera of two groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) of recent onset to evaluate the prognostic value of suchmeasurements. Patients with rapidly progressive joint destructionhad increased COMP concentrations initially, which subsequentlydecreased. A group with more benign disease, and less extensivejoint damage, had normal COMP levels throughout the study period.Serum concentrations of proteoglycan were normal in both groups.Thus measurement of COMP in serum early in the course of RAholds promise as a prognostic marker for development of jointdestruction in this disease KEY WORDS: Non-collagenous cartilage matrix protein, Proteoglycan, Prognosis, Joint destruction