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Dear Editor,
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1990 criteria (1990 criteria) (Citation1) had been virtually the sole diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia (FM); however, ACR preliminary diagnostic criteria for FM (2010 criteria) (Citation2) were reported in 2010. In 2011, a modification of the ACR preliminary diagnostic criteria for FM (2011 criteria) (Citation3) was reported. Dr. Wolfe stated as follows (Citation4): ‘A modification of the 2010 criteria has been published that allows assessment by self-reports (Citation3). These criteria are invalid for diagnosis in the individual patient. They should never be used for individual diagnosis.’ Could Dr. Wolfe explain the purpose of the 2011 criteria? If we diagnose the individual patient, should the 1990 criteria or the 2010 criteria be used?
I believe that the 2011 criteria have replaced the 2010 criteria. Are both the 2010 criteria and the 2011 criteria valid? If both criteria are valid, could Dr. Wolfe explain the purpose of the 1990 criteria, the 2010 criteria, and the 2011 criteria?
Declaration of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest and have received no payment in preparation of this manuscript.
References
- Wolfe F, Smythe HA, Yunus MB, Bennett RM, Bombardier C, Goldenberg DL, . The American College of Rheumatology 1990 Criteria for the Classification of Fibromyalgia. Report of the Multicenter Criteria Committee. Arthritis Rheum. 1990;33:160–72.
- Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, Goldenberg DL, Katz RS, Mease P, . The American College of Rheumatology preliminary diagnostic criteria for fibromyalgia and measurement of symptom severity. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010;62:600–10.
- Wolfe F, Clauw DJ, Fitzcharles MA, Goldenberg DL, Häuser W, Katz RS, . Fibromyalgia criteria and severity scales for clinical and epidemiological studies: A modification of the ACR Preliminary Diagnostic Criteria for Fibromyalgia. J Rheumatol. 2011;38: 1113–22.
- Wolfe F, Häuser W. Fibromyalgia diagnosis and diagnostic criteria. Ann Med. 2011 Jul 19 (Epub ahead of print).