Brief Report: Long‐Term Assessment of Fibromyalgia in Patients With Culture‐Confirmed Lyme Disease

Objective. Fibromyalgia (FM) occurs in 2-8% of the general population, and one of the triggers may be Lyme disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate for FM in patients with culture-confirmed Lyme disease. Methods. Patients with culture-confirmed Lyme disease who originally presented with erythema migrans were enrolled in a prospective study between 1991 and 2000 and have been evaluated annually to determine their long-term outcomes. In 2011-2013, the patients were evaluated for FM, by both interview and tender point examination. Results. Among the 100 patients assessed, 52% were male, and the mean age was 64.9 years (median 64 years [range 42-86 years]). The mean duration of followup was 15.4 years (median 16 years [range 11-20 years]). At least 24 of the patients (24%) had experienced a second episode of erythema migrans before being evaluated for fibromyalgia. One patient (1% [95% confidence interval 0.025-5.4%]) met the criteria for fibromyalgia. In this patient, the symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia began >19 years after Lyme disease was diagnosed. Conclusion. Fibromyalgia was observed in only 1% of 100 patients with culture-confirmed early Lyme disease; this frequency is consistent with that observed in the general population.