EpiFibro (Registro Brasileiro de Fibromialgia): dados sobre a classificação do ACR e preenchimento dos critérios diagnósticos preliminares e avaliação de seguimento

Ingestion of a THC-Rich Cannabis Oil in People with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective

To determine the benefit of a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-rich cannabis oil on symptoms and quality of life of fibromyalgia patients.

Methods

A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted for eight weeks to determine the benefit of a THC-rich cannabis oil (24.44 mg/mL of THC and 0.51 mg/mL of cannabidiol [CBD]) on symptoms and quality of life of 17 women with fibromyalgia, residents of a neighborhood with a low socioeconomic profile and a high incidence of violence in the city of Florianopolis, Brazil. The initial dose was one drop (∼1.22 mg of THC and 0.02 mg of CBD) a day with subsequent increases according to symptoms. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was applied at pre- and postintervention moments and in five visits over eight weeks.

Results

There were no significant differences on baseline FIQ score between groups. However, after the intervention, the cannabis group presented a significant decrease in FIQ score in comparison with the placebo group (P = 0.005) and in comparison with cannabis group baseline score. (P < 0.001). Analyzing isolated items on the FIQ, the cannabis group presented significant improvement on the “feel good,” “pain,” “do work,” and “fatigue” scores. The placebo group presented significant improvement on the “depression” score after intervention. There were no intolerable adverse effects.

Conclusions

Phytocannabinoids can be a low-cost and well-tolerated therapy to reduce symptoms and increase the quality of life of patients with fibromyalgia. Future studies are still needed to assess long-term benefits, and studies with different varieties of cannabinoids associated with a washout period must be done to enhance our knowledge of cannabis action in this health condition.

SIGNIFICADOS SOBRE SEXUALIDADE EM MULHERES COM FIBROMIALGIA: RESSONÂNCIAS DA RELIGIOSIDADE E DA MORALIDADE

A fibromialgia é uma síndrome reumatológica predominantemente feminina e que pode acarretar prejuízos em diferentes esferas da vida. Desse modo, pesquisas sobre a sexualidade desta população têm sido desenvolvidas, com foco, sobretudo, em seus aspectos objetivos. Porém, a sexualidade é atravessada também por fatores mais subjetivos, de ordem psicológica e sociocultural. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo compreender as ressonâncias da religiosidade e da moralidade nos significados sobre sexualidade de um conjunto de mulheres com fibromialgia. Trata-se do recorte de uma pesquisa mais ampla, determinado pela ocorrência de resultados que não foram visados diretamente. O presente estudo foi norteado pelas propostas do método clínico-qualitativo e contou com a participação de seis mulheres com fibromialgia. A coleta de dados teve como locus um grupo psicanalítico de discussão. As gravações em áudio dos encontros do grupo foram transcritas e constituíram o corpus, tendo sido examinadas segundo os procedimentos metodológicos estabelecidos pela análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelam que os significados sobre sexualidade, entre a maioria das participantes, são acentuadamente influenciados por restrições estabelecidas pela doutrina cristã e pela denominada ‘moral sexual civilizada’. Tais restrições não dizem respeito à síndrome propriamente dita e, talvez por essa razão, têm sido pouco exploradas na literatura especializada. Logo, recomenda-se, em prol da integralidade do cuidado, que profissionais de saúde e pesquisadores, no trabalho que desenvolvem junto a mulheres com fibromialgia, dediquem maior atenção às possíveis ressonâncias da religiosidade e da moralidade nos significados sobre sexualidade.

Treatment data from the Brazilian fibromyalgia registry (EpiFibro)

BACKGROUND

EpiFibro (Brazilian Epidemiological Study of Fibromyalgia) was created to study patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Patients were included since 2011 according to the classification criteria for FM of the American College of Rheumatology of 1990 (ACR1990).

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the therapeutic measures prescribed by Brazilian physicians.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study of a multicenter cohort. The therapeutic measures were described using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

We analyzed 456 patients who had complete data in the registry. The mean age was 54.0 ± 11.9 years; 448 were women (98.2%). Almost all patients (98.4%) used medications, 62.7% received health education, and less than half reported practicing physical exercise; these modalities were often used in combination. Most patients who practiced exercises practiced aerobic exercise only, and a significant portion of patients combined it with flexibility exercises. The most commonly used medication was amitriptyline, followed by cyclobenzaprine, and a minority used medication specifically approved for FM, such as duloxetine and pregabalin, either alone or in combination. Combinations of two or three medications were observed, with the combination of fluoxetine and amitriptyline being the most frequent (18.8%).

CONCLUSION

In this evaluation of the care of patients with FM in Brazil, it was found that the majority of patients are treated with a combination of pharmacological measures. Non-pharmacological methods are underused, with aerobic exercise being the most commonly practiced exercise type. The most commonly prescribed single drug was amitriptyline, and the most commonly prescribed combination was fluoxetine and amitriptyline. Drugs specifically approved for FM are seldom prescribed.

Advances in rheumatology practice in Brazil

Despite resilient inequities, Brazil has seen progressive improvement in health care in the last 25 years. Infectious diseases rendered place to chronic non-communicable diseases as a major cause of death. Existence of traditional schools of medicine and training services in rheumatology helped form a reasonable number of specialists, though irregular distribution due to the economic issues favoring their clustering in major cities. The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology provides continued medical education, helps training rheumatologists, family physicians and other health professionals and has worked to publish national recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of major rheumatic diseases. Access to medications and health care facilities is provided for most patients, free of direct charge, including biologics. Specialized services for autoimmune and rare diseases, including pediatric rheumatology and autoinflammatory diseases, have improved, particularly in developed centers of the southern best developed parts of the country. A major unmet need is the lack of access to non-pharmacological treatment modalities. In this article, we will summarize some of the strengths and points that need improvement to enhance access to the rheumatological health care in Brazil.