PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Reuven Mader AU - Irina Novofastovski AU - Ehud Rosner AU - Muhammad Adawi AU - Paula Herer AU - Dan Buskila TI - Nonarticular Tenderness and Functional Status in Patients with Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis AID - 10.3899/jrheum.091008 DP - 2010 Jun 15 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - jrheum.091008 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2010/06/13/jrheum.091008.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2010/06/13/jrheum.091008.full AB - Objective To investigate the degree of nonarticular tenderness and functional status in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). We assessed these variables' correlation with their clinical, radiographic, and constitutional measurements and with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods Eighty-seven patients with DISH were compared with 65 controls without DISH. Examination of nonarticular tenderness was performed by thumb palpation. Tenderness was scored for the 18 fibromyalgia tender points (TP), and 4 control points. Nonarticular tenderness was expressed by the number of TP and by the total tenderness score (TTS). The Short Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ II) was administered to all participants. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from all patients. Patients were classified as having MS by both the National Cholesterol Education Program and World Health Organization definitions. Results There was a statistically significant difference in TTS between controls and patients with DISH. The mean tenderness of many individual TP was significantly higher in the DISH group compared with the control group. TP counts, TTS, and body mass index (BMI) positively correlated with the HAQ II. There was a linear trend in intensity of T-spine bony bridges (BB) and the total number of TP as well as many individual TP. Patients with DISH were more likely to be affected by MS. No correlation was found between TP count, TTS, and MS. Conclusion Patients with DISH have a lower pain threshold than patients who do not have DISH. TP count and TTS correlate with the functional status, BMI, waist circumference, and high-grade BB. No correlation was observed between pain threshold and MS.