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No Effect of Antiviral (Valacyclovir) Treatment in Fibromyalgia: A Double Blind, Randomized Study
SALLY ASPEGREN KENDALL, MALIKA LONE CHENOUFI SCHAADT, LYKKE BJERGLUND GRAFF, IRENE WITTRUP, HANNE MALMSKOV, KIM KROGSGAARD, ELSE-MARIE BARTELS, HENNING BLIDDAL, and BENTE DANNESKIOLD-SAMSØE
ABSTRACT.
Methods. Sixty patients were randomized into a double blind, placebo controlled 6 week trial. Primary outcome was pain intensity change (on visual analog scale). Secondary outcome measures were tender points (myalgic score) and Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ). Results. Fifty-two patients completed the study. The numbers of dropouts due to adverse events were equal in valacyclovir (2) and placebo (2) groups. The effect of valacyclovir on pain and tenderness and FIQ did not differ from placebo. Conclusion. Valacyclovir cannot be recommended as a therapy for FM at this point. (J Rheumatol 2004; 31:783-4) Key Indexing Terms:
FIBROMYALGIA
From the Parker Institute, Department of Rheumatology, Frederiksberg Hospital, Frederiksberg; the Clinical Research Unit, Hvidovre Hospital, Hvidovre; and The Danish National Library of Science and Medicine, Copenhagen, Denmark. Supported in part by grants from GlaxoSmithKline Pharma A/S, Denmark; The Oak Foundation; The Danish Health Foundation; and The Foundation of Lykfeldt. S.A. Kendall, MD; M.L. Chenoufi Schaadt, MD, DM; L. Bjerglund Graff, MD, PhD; I. Wittrup, MD; H. Malmskov, MD; H. Bliddal, MD, DM; B. Danneskiold-Samsøe, MD, DM, The Parker Institute; K. Krogsgaard, MD, DM, Hvidovre Hospital; E-M. Bartels, PhD, The Parker Institute, The Danish National Library of Science and Medicine. Address reprint requests to Dr. B. Danneskiold-Samsøe, The Parker Institute, Frederiksberg Hospital, Ndr. Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. E-mail: bente.danneskiold@fh.hosp.dk Submitted February 26, 2003; revision accepted October 21, 2003. |