[Fibromyalgia].

Purpose: We review the current knowledge about fibromyalgia, adding to the clinical aspects, the nosology, epidemiology and pathogenesis. The therapeutic and social management of these suffering patients are discussed.

Key Points: The limitations of the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria used as diagnostic criteria are discussed.

[The role for new evidence-based methods in patient care].

Are we going to change the way we practice medicine? There are two kinds of medical knowledge: one is impersonal and results from research based on scientific methodology and scientific reasoning; the other is personal and results from learning and apprenticeship with seniors and from individual experience. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is a new approach to teaching the practice of medicine. Instead of using personal knowledge, intuition, unsystematic clinical experience, and pathophysiological reasoning, it stresses evidence from clinical research.

[Natural history of non specific neuralgias of the limbs. Exponential kinetics of the root pain recovery in sciatica and femoral neuralgia; uncertain kinetics for brachial neuralgia].

Very few studies are dedicated to the natural history of sciatica, and none to femoral neuralgia or brachial neuralgia natural course. Hence, the results of a collection of five studies on these topics appear worth being published. A rheumatology department.