Fibromyalgia syndrome. An emerging but controversial condition.

The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and treatment results of 118 patients with fibromyalgia followed up by one investigator were compared with those of other recent reports. The history of this syndrome and recent efforts to establish diagnostic criteria and to understand underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms were studied. A practical, noninvasive office-based evaluation and conservative treatment approach were developed, determined by an understanding of the natural history of this common but controversial disorder.