Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

MKSAP: 25-year-old with diffuse muscle and joint pain

mksap
Conditions
January 14, 2012
129 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.

A 25-year-old woman is evaluated during a follow-up visit for a 6-month history of diffuse muscle and joint pain above and below the waist, fatigue, and difficulty sleeping. She has a 2-year history of hypothyroidism treated with levothyroxine. Her only other medication is hydrocodone-acetaminophen, which has not relieved her pain.

On physical examination, temperature is 37.0 °C (98.6 °F), blood pressure is 125/78 mm Hg, pulse rate is 85/min, and respiration rate is 12/min. Cardiopulmonary examination is normal. Musculoskeletal examination reveals diffuse periarticular tenderness, including bilateral tenderness in the biceps brachii, thighs, and calves. Muscle strength testing cannot be completed because of pain. The joints are not swollen, and she does not have lower-extremity edema.

Laboratory studies:

Complete blood count Normal
Complete metabolic panel Normal
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 10 mm/h
Creatine kinase 100 U/L
Antinuclear antibodies Titer of 1:640
Thyroid-stimulating hormone 1.5 µU/mL (1.5 mU/L)
Urinalysis Normal

Which of following is the most likely diagnosis?

A) Fibromyalgia
B) Polymyositis
C) Sjögren syndrome
D) Systemic lupus erythematosus

MKSAP Answer and Critique

The correct answer is A) Fibromyalgia. This item is available to MKSAP 15 subscribers as item 30 in the Rheumatology section. More information about MKSAP 15 is available online.

This patient most likely has fibromyalgia. This condition is characterized by diffuse pain on both sides of the body and above and below the waist as well as axial skeletal pain, or, according to the original American College of Rheumatology criteria, the presence of pain in at least 11 of 18 specified potential tender points. However, expert opinion now states that these tender points are arbitrary and not essential in the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.

Most patients with this condition have fatigue and sleep disturbance. Fibromyalgia also may be associated with dry eyes and mouth. Studies that have assessed the comorbidity of fibromyalgia with other symptom-defined syndromes have found high rates of chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic pain, and temporomandibular joint pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

Polymyositis may manifest as muscle pain and fatigue but is unlikely in the absence of significant proximal muscle weakness or an elevated creatine kinase level.

Up to 25% of patients with systemic inflammatory conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, have symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia in the initial stages of their illness. This patient’s fatigue, polyarthralgia, dry eyes and mouth, and strongly positive titers of antinuclear antibodies are consistent with SLE and Sjögren syndrome. However, patients with SLE usually have anemia, leukopenia, or lymphopenia. Similarly, joint involvement in Sjögren syndrome typically manifests as inflammatory arthritis. Furthermore, patients with SLE and Sjögren syndrome may have systemic manifestations, including cutaneous, neurologic, and renal involvement, which are absent in this patient.

The presence of antinuclear antibodies is not diagnostic of SLE or Sjögren syndrome. These antibodies are often present in the general population and particularly in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease or in first-degree relatives of patients with SLE. In addition, high titers of antinuclear antibodies do not necessarily indicate the presence of autoimmune disease.

Key Point

  • Fibromyalgia is characterized by diffuse pain on both sides of the body and above and below the waist as well as axial skeletal pain.

Learn more about ACP’s MKSAP 15.

This content is excerpted from MKSAP 15 with permission from the American College of Physicians (ACP). Use is restricted in the same manner as that defined in the MKSAP 15 Digital license agreement. This material should never be used as a substitute for clinical judgment and does not represent an official position of ACP. All content is licensed to KevinMD.com on an “AS IS” basis without any warranty of any nature. The publisher, ACP, shall not be liable for any damage or loss of any kind arising out of or resulting from use of content, regardless of whether such liability is based in tort, contract or otherwise.

Prev

What health care can learn from the New England Patriots

January 13, 2012 Kevin 12
…
Next

How well does your child play?

January 14, 2012 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Rheumatology

Post navigation

< Previous Post
What health care can learn from the New England Patriots
Next Post >
How well does your child play?

More by mksap

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 26-year-old man with back pain

    mksap
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 36-year-old man with abdominal cramping, diarrhea, malaise, and nausea

    mksap
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    MKSAP: 52-year-old woman with osteoarthritis of the right hip

    mksap

More in Conditions

  • The surprising medical mystery of a “good” Hitler: How a rescued kitten revealed a rare movement disorder

    Teresella Gondolo, MD
  • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

    Kim Downey, PT
  • Unlocking the secrets of cancer conferences: an end-of-life counselor’s journey among pharmaceutical giants

    Althea Halchuck, EJD
  • An obstetrician-gynecologist reveals the truth about reproductive planning and how to navigate society’s expectations

    Yuliya Malayev, DO, MPH
  • Nose-brain connection: The surprising link between allergies and mental health revealed

    Kara Wada, MD
  • Is the rise in mental illness due to greater awareness or a true increase in incidence?

    Zahid Awan, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How chronic illness and disability are portrayed in media and the importance of daily choices for improved quality of life

      Juliet Morgan and Meghan Jobson | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • A patient’s perspective on the diminishing relationship between doctors and patients

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Emulating Michael Jordan’s winning mindset: a path to success for health care professionals and entrepreneurs

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • How biased language and stigmatizing labels affect patient care and treatment

      Joan Naidorf, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The growing threat to transgender health care: implications for patients, providers, and trainees

      Carson Hartlage | Policy
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From skydiving to saving lives: a surgeon’s journey on adversity, passion, and perseverance [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How can there be joy in medicine if there is no joy in Mudville?

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Policy
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

      John Paul Mikhaiel, MD | Policy
    • Why electronic health records are failing patients: the dark side of copy and paste [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • 'Medically Relevant to Saving the Life of Your Patient': What We Heard This Week
  • Want to Solve the Nurse Shortage?
  • Why Are Female Doctors Sued Nearly Half as Often as Male Doctors?
  • What Drug Did FDA Just Approve for COVID?
  • PET Scan for Alzheimer's Dx; Predicting Colon Cancer Survival

Meeting Coverage

  • No Access to Routine Healthcare Biggest Barrier to HPV Vaccination
  • Trial Results Spark Talk of Curing More Metastatic Cervical Cancers
  • Cross-Border Collaboration Improves Survival in Pediatric Leukemia Patients
  • Monoclonal Antibody Reduced Need For Transfusions in Low-Risk MDS
  • Less-Invasive Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer Proves Safe, Effective
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • How chronic illness and disability are portrayed in media and the importance of daily choices for improved quality of life

      Juliet Morgan and Meghan Jobson | Physician
    • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

      Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH | Policy
    • The power of coaching for physicians: transforming thoughts, changing lives

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • A patient’s perspective on the diminishing relationship between doctors and patients

      Michele Luckenbaugh | Conditions
    • Emulating Michael Jordan’s winning mindset: a path to success for health care professionals and entrepreneurs

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • How biased language and stigmatizing labels affect patient care and treatment

      Joan Naidorf, DO | Physician
  • Past 6 Months

    • The growing threat to transgender health care: implications for patients, providers, and trainees

      Carson Hartlage | Policy
    • It’s time to replace the 0 to 10 pain intensity scale with a better measure

      Mark Sullivan, MD and Jane Ballantyne, MD | Conditions
    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking point: the 5 reasons American doctors are dreaming of walking away from medicine

      Amol Shrikhande, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Revolutionize your practice: the value-based care model that reduces physician burnout

      Chandravadan Patel, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From skydiving to saving lives: a surgeon’s journey on adversity, passion, and perseverance [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • How can there be joy in medicine if there is no joy in Mudville?

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Policy
    • Physician entrepreneurs offer hope for burned out doctors

      Cindy Rubin, MD | Physician
    • Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

      John Paul Mikhaiel, MD | Policy
    • Why electronic health records are failing patients: the dark side of copy and paste [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...