Does allergy play a role in fibrositis?

Twenty patients with active fibrositis and no underlying disease (and with normal electromyographic findings) were evaluated for the possible role of an active allergic process in their conditions. A definite atopic history was obtained in just fewer than 50% of the patients, and an allergic diathesis in slightly more than 50% of the patients' families. Serum immunoglobulin E levels and eosinophil counts for all 20 patients fell within the normal range. Thus the traditional allergic reaction (type I hypersensitivity) would seem unlikely as a mediator of fibrositis.