BOWEL DYSFUNCTION AND IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME IN FIBROMYALGIA PATIENTS

Fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome are both common conditions w hich account for most of the referrals to physical medicine and rehabi litation-rheumatology and gastroenterology clinics, and they frequentl y coexist. In this study, we utilized a previously validated questionn aire to assess the prevalence of symptoms of bowel dysfunction and irr itable bowel syndrome, and to survey the range of bowel pattern in 75 patients with fibromyalgia as compared to 50 normal controls. Symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome (p < 0.05) were reported in 41.8% of the fibromyalgia patients and 16% of the normal controls, In conclusion, we found that patients with fibromyalgia have a high preva lence of gastrointestinal complaints confirming the results indicating that fibromyalgia and irritable bowel syndrome frequently coexist, Th is may suggest a common pathogenic mechanism for both conditions.