The evaluation of dyspnoea and respiratory functions in fibromyalgia syndrome

The purpose of this study was to investigate dyspnoea in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS). Dyspnoea is a prevalent symptom of FS and our study emphasizes the importance of respiratory dysfunction in FS patients. The musculoskeletal and respiratory systems of 40 fibromyalgia patients and 20 controls were thoroughly physically examined in order to establish a differential diagnosis and to make sure that none of them had any disease involving the respiratory tract. Direct roentgenograms of the chest were taken, and spirometric pulmonary functions were measured in each subject, including forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), peak and forced expiratory flow (PEF, FEF), and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). The mean values of FEV1, PEF, FEF and MVV, expressed as percentages of the predicted normal values, were statistically lower in FS patients than in control subjects. These findings support the theory that the respiratory muscle function is impaired in FS, and stress the importance of giving adequate care to the patients' respiratory functions.