An analysis of the neuropathic pain components in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Despite the fact that the methotrexate is considered to be an anchor drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there are still many patients who suffer from pain when the condition develops without active inflammation. Therefore in this research, we tried to clarify the incidence of neuropathic pain (NeP) in RA patients and ends with a conclusion that high disease activity and being overweight are related to NeP in RA patients.  

The study aimed to assess the neuropathic pain (NeP) elements among cases with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

A total of 300 RA patients completed the pain DETECT questionnaire (PD-Q).

A total of 258 patients were found with unlikely NeP, 33 with possible NeP and 9 with likely NeP. After eliminating patients with herpes zoster infection, diabetes mellitus, neurological diseases, and spinal diseases, the number of patients with likely NeP reduces to 5 and possible NeP to 23. All the three categories showed no noticed differences in the percentages of underlying infirmities. Significant higher C-reactive protein level, PD-Q score, the body mass index (BMI), pain visual analogue scale (VAS), and disease activity score-28 was noticed among likely and possible NeP group than unlikely NeP group. The BMI ≥22 and not being in clinical remission were correlated with NeP as per the multivariate analysis.

However, the pain related RA known as nociceptive pain; the existing study explained that considerable patients showed NeP. The study findings recommend that overweight and high disease activity are associated with NeP among RA patients.