To the Editor:
We are delighted that Dr. Pincus has responded to the recent article by Coury, et al1 and our accompanying editorial2 regarding the problematic assessment of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and concomitant fibromyalgia (FM). Both disorders are rather common, but to a physician familiar with rheumatic disorders, differentiation of the 2 syndromes is not a problem, nor is assessment of patients having both disorders concomitantly.
The hallmark of RA is systemic inflammation, whereas FM is characterized by disordered pain perception. Consequently, the “target organs” of RA are synovial joints, while most …
Address reprint requests to Dr. H. Mäkinen; E-mail: heidi.makinen{at}ksshp.fi