SLEEP DISTURBANCES, FIBROMYALGIA AND PRIMARY SJOGRENS-SYNDROME

Objective: To investigate the association and prevalence of sleep dist urbances and fibromyalgia (FM) in a group of patients with primary Sjo gren's syndrome (pSS). Methods: Sixty-five patients with pSS were inve stigated A 10-point Mini Sleep Questionnaire (MSP) was completed focus ing on sleep complaints. The same questionnaire was also used in three control groups: Group A - 67 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Grou p B - 53 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and sicca symptoms; G roup C - 31 patients with osteoarthritis. All patients with pSS were a lso studied for the presence of FM. Results. Moderate or severe sleep disturbances were reported by 49 out of 65 pSS patients (75%). This fr equency was significantly higher than that reported by patients in the three control groups (p < 0.001). FM was present in 36 out of 65 pSS patient, (55%) and was associated with sleep disturbances, FM or sleep disturbances were not associated with any clinical or laboratory para meters. Conclusion: Our results suggest that sleep abnormalities and F M in pSS patients are frequent and their etiology might involve other mechanisms besides joint pain or sicca symptomatology.