AB0382
ASSESSING NEUROPATHIC PAIN COMPONENTS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
J. Detert 1V. Höhne-Zimmer 1S. Schönberger 1E. Roehner 2G.-R. Burmester 1F. Buttgereit 1,*
1Department Of Rheumatology And Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 2Department Of Orthopedics, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Background: This is a prospective analysis of a sample frequency of neuropathic pain (NP) components in patients (pts) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The current drug regimen addresses only inadequately NP phenomena and other factors such as anxiety, depression, and coping behavior.
Objectives: RA-pts have a NP component in addition to the inflammatory pain due to joint destruction and the resulting nerve irritation.
Methods: In this investigation 204 pts (163 ♀, 41 ♂) with RA were included according to classification criteria of ACR 1987. The disease duration of pts was ≥12 months. The mean age was 58.8 (SD: 13.5). All pts provided demographic information, and answered questions on their disease course (e.g. start of disease, medication). Furthermore, multiple data on pain perception (e.g. temporal occurrence, quality, quantity, characteristics) were collected. NP was also identified specifically using the painDETECT Questionnaire (PDQ) in an interview.A descriptive statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 19.
Results: All data were collected in our outpatient department from June 2008 to November 2010. The mean disease activity score (DAS28ESR) was 3.2. The following table shows a selection of key results for the characterization of pain in RA-patients.
Variable |
Number |
Percent |
|
Duration of pain attacks |
|
|
|
seconds/minutes |
76 |
27 |
|
hours |
55 |
37.2 |
|
several times on a daily basis |
73 |
35.8 |
|
Occurrence of pain |
|
|
|
at morning |
53 |
26 |
|
daily pain |
109 |
53.4 |
|
Season |
|
|
|
autumn |
45 |
22.1 |
|
winter |
44 |
21.6 |
|
Pain description by the patients |
|
|
|
dragging pain |
73 |
35.8 |
|
aching pain |
26 |
12.8 |
|
Selection of pain expressions by patients |
|
|
|
agonizing |
88 |
43.1 |
|
cruel |
130 |
63.2 |
|
PDQ |
|
|
|
nociceptive pain |
194 |
90.7 |
|
neuropathic pain |
1 |
0.5 |
Conclusions: Most pts reported typical nociceptive pain. In their own words, pts also described an inflammatory pain and selected the characteristics of this pain from a list. Pain attacks occur more frequently in fall and winter. More than a third of patients report pain attacks that occur throughout the day. Hence, pain therapy should be adjusted accordingly.
Disclosure of Interest: J. Detert Grant / Research support from: Pfizer GmbH & CoV. Höhne-Zimmer: None DeclaredS. Schönberger: None DeclaredE. Roehner: None DeclaredG.-R. Burmester Grant / Research support from: Pfizer GmbH & Co Consultant for: Pfizer GmbH & Co Speakers Bureau: Pfizer GmbH & CoF. Buttgereit Grant / Research support from: Pfizer GmbH & Co Consultant for: Pfizer GmbH & Co Speakers Bureau: Pfizer GmbH & Co