Pain is frequent in patients with connective tissue diseases
(CTDs), particularly those affected by systemic sclerosis (SSc) and
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in which it is virtually
ubiquitous and can have different causes. The SLE classi
fi
cation
criteria include pain associated with musculoskeletal involve-
ment, which are frequently the initial symptom of SLE and can
include arthralgia, arthritis and/or myalgia. Chronic widespread
pain, the cornerstone of
fi
bromyalgia (FM), is also frequently
associated with CTDs.
Chronic pain has a considerable impact on mental health, and the
professional and family lives of patients. It can be due to many
disorders, but there are few reports concerning its prevalence
during the course of other diseases.
It is essential to identify the origin of pain in CTDs in order to avoid
dangerous over-treatment in patients with co-existing widespread
pain. Effective pain management is a primary goal of patient
care, although it has not been investigated in detail in patients
with SSc
