[Fibromyalgia--a new name for a syndrome with diffuse muscular disorders]

This new name for an old and common disease has introduced fresh criteria and initiated clinical and basic research. The present clinical knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment is reviewed. Morphological and biochemical findings in the muscle of fibromyalgia patients have shown an unevenly distributed reduction of the oxygen tension. Hypoxia in the muscle sensitizes nociceptors, resulting in hyperalgesia with a diffuse distribution of pain symptoms. These are difficult for the individual to localize and are often combined with muscle stiffness and increased fatigability. These symptoms correspond to complaints received from fibromyalgia patients.