Fibromylagia and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome

Fibromylagia (FM) and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome (MCS) are clinically and demographically similar: both are multi-system chronic conditions, mostly affecting women, with an unknown etiology. This study attempted to determine the prevalence of MCS among FM patients, and to compare FM patients with and without MCS.

MCS involves recurrent multi-system symptoms arising out of exposure to a variety of common chemical substances. The researchers distributed a questionnaire to 60 FM patients to evaluate their individual experiences with chemicals in everyday life. The criterion for MCS is if a patient, “experiences symptoms in at least 3 organ systems when exposed to at least 4 common unrelated substances.” The researchers found that 33 of the 60 FM patients—55%—also fit the diagnostic criteria for MCS; furthermore, of the 55%, 11 met restrictive criteria, indicating a “higher degree” of chemical sensitivity. Upon comparing the two sets of FM patients, no significant differences in symptoms were noted:

“Interestingly, the presence of MCS did not distinguish a subgroup of FM patients with differing symptomatology, suggesting that this increased “reactivity” to the environment may be an additional allied condition in the spectrum of FM, such as irritable bowel syndrome, migraine headaches, and temporomandibular joint syndrome.”

Slotkoff AT, Radulovic DA, Clauw DJ. The relationship between fibromyalgia and the multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome. Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology 1997;26:364-367.

 

 

Home | Combining Therapies | Meet the Specialists | Treatment
Free Consultation | Cost and Time | Car Accident | Location | Contact Us