Research agenda
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To develop new laboratory and clinical indices to distinguish FM from other autoimmune rheumatic diseases in order to reduce misdiagnoses.
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To evaluate the adequacy and
FM may occur alone (primary FM) or in combination with other diseases (secondary FM): 44–55% of FM patients have been found to have pSS [7]. Although it is a major feature of FM, it has been found that fatigue is not a sensitive discriminator and so it is not included in the classification criteria, which rely on the presence of widespread pain and mild or more severe tenderness in at least 11 of 18 specific TPs [21]. It has been shown that these factors are equally sensitive and specific in
FM is common in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases and may be the cause of many of their symptoms and much of their disability. Misdiagnosis is harmful for the patients and the community, and so rheumatologists and general practitioners need to be able to recognise and distinguish primary and secondary FM. To develop new laboratory and clinical indices to distinguish FM from other autoimmune rheumatic diseases in order to reduce misdiagnoses. To evaluate the adequacy andResearch agenda