Research Article
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Romatoid artritli hastalarda nöropatik ağrı komponentinin sıklığı ve hastalık aktivitesiyle ilişkisinin değerlendirilmesi: kesitsel bir çalışma

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 5, 847 - 851, 16.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1730961

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı romatoid artritli (RA) hastalarda nöropatik ağrı (NP) kompanentinin sıklığını incelemek ve hastalık aktivitesi, fonksiyonel durum, yaşam kalitesi üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktır.
Yöntemler: Çalışmaya RA tanılı altmış hasta ile yaş ve cinsiyet uyumlu altmış kontrol olmak üzere toplam 120 kişi alındı. Hastalık aktivitesi için disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS-28), ağrı için visual analog scale (VAS), nöropatik ağrı için pain-DETECT ağrı anketi (PD-Q), yaşam kalitesi için quality of life-rheumatoid arthritis (RA-QoL), fonksiyenel durum için health assesment questionnaire (HAQ) kullanıldı.
Bulgular: Yaş ve cinsiyet açısından hasta ve kontrol grubu arasında istatistiksel fark saptanmadı (sırasıyla p=0.097, p=0.487). NP oranı hasta grubunda 63.3% (n=38) (kontrol grubunda ise 6.7% (n=4) idi. İki grup arasında istatistiksel anlamlı fark saptandı (p<0.001). RA’lı hastalar PD-Q’ ya göre olası ve muhtemel NP semptomları olanlar (PD-Q≥13) ve NP olası olmayanlar (PD-Q<13) olarak ayrıldı. Olası ve muhtemel NP semptomları olan hasta grubunda VAS-pain, DAS-28, HAQ, RA-QoL açısından olası olmayan gruba kıyasla istatiksel anlamlı fark saptandı (p<0.001). Hastaların PD-Q skorları; DAS-28, VAS-ağrı, RA-QoL, HAQ skorları ile pozitif korelasyon gösterdi (p<0.001).
Sonuç: RA’li hastalarda nosiseptif ağrı yanında azımsanmayacak derecede NP’da mevcuttur. NP yüksek hastalık aktivitesi, düşük yaşam kalitesi ve kısıtlı fonksiyonel kapasite ile ilişkilidir.

References

  • Koca TT, Göğebakan H, Çetin G. Central sensitization in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional analytic study. Cent Asian J Med Hypotheses Ethics. 2025:6(1):56-62. doi:10.47316/cajmhe.2025.6.1.06
  • Ahmed L, Biddle K, Blundell A, et al. Assessing the effects of distinct biologic therapies on rheumatoid arthritis pain by nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic pain components: a randomised feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2024;10(1):77. doi:10.1186/s40814-024-01505-4
  • Nieto FR, Clark AK, Grist J, Hathway GJ, Chapman V, Malcangio M. Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis. J Neuroinflammation. 2016;13(1):96.
  • Saitou M, Noda K, Matsushita T, Ukichi T, Kurosaka D. Central sensitisation features are associated with neuropathic pain-like symptoms in patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study using the central sensitisation inventory. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2022;40(5):980-987. doi:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/msy022
  • McWilliams DF, Walsh DA. Pain mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2017;35 Suppl 107(5):94-101.
  • Noda K, Tajima M, Oto Y, et al. How do neuropathic pain-likesymptoms affect health-related quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis? A comparison of multiple pain-related parameters. Mod Rheumatol. 2020;30(5)828-834. doi:10.1080/14397595.2019.1650462
  • Atik S, Sahin O, Atik I, Polat M. Neuropathic pain component in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and the relationship of neuropathic pain and disease activity parameters: a cross-sectional study. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2024;24(3):284-290.
  • de Araújo Pereira F, de Almeida Lourenço M, de Assis MR. Evaluation of peripheral neuropathy in lower limbs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relation to fall risk. Adv Rheumatol. 2022;62(1):9. doi:10. 1186/s42358-022-00238-3
  • Mahajan A, Mruthyunjaya P, Padhee S, Ahmed S. People with osteoarthritis have a higher component of neuropathic pain as compared to those with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study. Rheumatol Int. 2024;44(10):2179-2184. doi:10.1007/s00296-024-05657-7
  • Silva Santos Ribeiro P, Willemen HLDM, Eijkelkamp N. Mitochondria and sensory processing in inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2022;3:1013577. doi:10.3389/fpain.2022.1013577
  • Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American col­lege of rheumatology/european league against rheumatism collabora­tive initiative. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69:1580-1588. doi:10.1136/ard.2010.138461
  • Smolen JS, Breedveld FC, Schiff MH, et al. A simplified Disease Activity Index for rheumatoid arthritis for use in clinical practice. Rheumatol. 2003;42(2):244-257. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keg072
  • Alkan H, Ardic F, Erdogan C, Sahin F, Sarsan A, Findikoglu G. Turkish version of the painDETECT questionnaire in the assessment of neuro­pathic pain: a validity and reliability study. Pain Med. 2013;14(12):1933-1943. doi:10.1111/pme.12222
  • Küçükdeveci AA, Sahin H, Ataman S, Griffiths B, Tennant A. Issues in cross-cultural validity: example from the adaptation, reliability, and validity testing of a Turkish version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51(1):14-19. doi:10.1002/art.20091
  • Kutlay S, Küçükdeveci A, Gönül D, Tennant A. Adaptation and vali­dation of the Turkish version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale. Rheumatol Int 2003;23(1):21-26. doi:10.1007/s00296-002-0247-2
  • Ito S, Kobayashi D, Murasawa A, Narita I, Nakazono K. An analysis of the neuropathic pain components in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Intern Med. 2018;57(4):479-485. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.9235-17
  • Murphy AE, Minhas D, Clauw DJ, Lee YC. Identifying and managing nociplastic pain in ındividuals with rheumatic diseases: a narrative review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023;75(10):2215-2222. doi:10. 1002/acr.25104
  • Baerwald C, Stemmler E, Gnüchtel S, et al. Predictors for severe persisting pain in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with pain origin and appraisal of pain. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024;83(10):1381-1388. doi:10. 1136/ard-2023-225414
  • Kimyon G, Kara B, Akkan M, Ergin M. Do biological therapies have any effect on neuropathic pain in rheumatoid arthritis? What are the related factors? Rheumatology Quarterly. 2024;2:4. doi:10.4274/qrheumatol.galenos.2024.02886
  • Koop SM, ten Klooster PM, Vonkeman HE, et al. Neuropathic-like pain features and cross-sectional associations in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015;17(1):237. doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0761-8
  • Hassen N, Moolooghy K, Kopec J, Xie H, Khan KM, Lacaille D. Determinants of health-related quality of life in adults living with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2025.152717
  • Büyük F, Borman P, Bakırcı EŞ, et.al. The frequency of neuropathic pain and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Aktuelle Rheumatologie. 2025;50(03):177-183. doi:10.1055/a-2243-3584
  • Motyl G, Krupka WM, Maślińska M. The problem of residual pain in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Reumatologia. 2024;62(3): 176-186. doi:10.5114/reum/189779
  • Lassen J, Baron R. Rheumatic diseases and neuropathic pain: diagnosis and treatment. Z Rheumatol. 2021;80(3):226-233. doi:10.1007/s00393-020-00950-9

Prevalence of the neuropathic pain component in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relationship to disease activity: a cross-sectional study

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 5, 847 - 851, 16.09.2025
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1730961

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of the neuropathic pain (NP) component in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its effects on disease activity, functional status, and quality of life.
Methods: The sample of the study consisted of 120 individuals, including 60 patients diagnosed with RA and 60 age- and sex-matched controls. The disease activity score-28 (DAS-28) for disease activity, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, the painDETECT questionnaire (PDQ) for NP, the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RA-QoL) for quality of life, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) for functional status were used to collect data.
Results: The prevalence of NP was 63.3% (n=38) in the patient group and 6.7% (n=4) in the control group, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p<0.001). The patient group was divided based on their PDQ scores into two subgroups consisting of those with unclear or likely NP symptoms (PDQ≥13) and those without NP symptoms (PDQ<13). The VAS-pain, DAS-28, HAQ, and RA-QoL scores of the subgroups with and without symptoms showed statistically significant differences (p<0.001). The PDQ scores of the patients were positively correlated with their DAS-28, VAS-pain, RA-QoL, and HAQ scores (p<0.001).
Conclusion: In addition to nociceptive pain, RA patients also have non-negligible rates of NP. NP is associated with high disease activity, low quality of life, and limited functional capacity.

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval: Ordu University Etic Committee: 11 April 2025 decision no: 2025/117 This manuscript has not been published, accepted, or under simultaneous review for publication elsewhere.

Supporting Institution

NO

Thanks

NO

References

  • Koca TT, Göğebakan H, Çetin G. Central sensitization in rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional analytic study. Cent Asian J Med Hypotheses Ethics. 2025:6(1):56-62. doi:10.47316/cajmhe.2025.6.1.06
  • Ahmed L, Biddle K, Blundell A, et al. Assessing the effects of distinct biologic therapies on rheumatoid arthritis pain by nociceptive, neuropathic and nociplastic pain components: a randomised feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2024;10(1):77. doi:10.1186/s40814-024-01505-4
  • Nieto FR, Clark AK, Grist J, Hathway GJ, Chapman V, Malcangio M. Neuron-immune mechanisms contribute to pain in early stages of arthritis. J Neuroinflammation. 2016;13(1):96.
  • Saitou M, Noda K, Matsushita T, Ukichi T, Kurosaka D. Central sensitisation features are associated with neuropathic pain-like symptoms in patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study using the central sensitisation inventory. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2022;40(5):980-987. doi:10.55563/clinexprheumatol/msy022
  • McWilliams DF, Walsh DA. Pain mechanisms in rheumatoid arthritis. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2017;35 Suppl 107(5):94-101.
  • Noda K, Tajima M, Oto Y, et al. How do neuropathic pain-likesymptoms affect health-related quality of life among patients with rheumatoid arthritis? A comparison of multiple pain-related parameters. Mod Rheumatol. 2020;30(5)828-834. doi:10.1080/14397595.2019.1650462
  • Atik S, Sahin O, Atik I, Polat M. Neuropathic pain component in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and the relationship of neuropathic pain and disease activity parameters: a cross-sectional study. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact. 2024;24(3):284-290.
  • de Araújo Pereira F, de Almeida Lourenço M, de Assis MR. Evaluation of peripheral neuropathy in lower limbs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its relation to fall risk. Adv Rheumatol. 2022;62(1):9. doi:10. 1186/s42358-022-00238-3
  • Mahajan A, Mruthyunjaya P, Padhee S, Ahmed S. People with osteoarthritis have a higher component of neuropathic pain as compared to those with rheumatoid arthritis: a cross-sectional study. Rheumatol Int. 2024;44(10):2179-2184. doi:10.1007/s00296-024-05657-7
  • Silva Santos Ribeiro P, Willemen HLDM, Eijkelkamp N. Mitochondria and sensory processing in inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Front Pain Res (Lausanne). 2022;3:1013577. doi:10.3389/fpain.2022.1013577
  • Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American col­lege of rheumatology/european league against rheumatism collabora­tive initiative. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69:1580-1588. doi:10.1136/ard.2010.138461
  • Smolen JS, Breedveld FC, Schiff MH, et al. A simplified Disease Activity Index for rheumatoid arthritis for use in clinical practice. Rheumatol. 2003;42(2):244-257. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keg072
  • Alkan H, Ardic F, Erdogan C, Sahin F, Sarsan A, Findikoglu G. Turkish version of the painDETECT questionnaire in the assessment of neuro­pathic pain: a validity and reliability study. Pain Med. 2013;14(12):1933-1943. doi:10.1111/pme.12222
  • Küçükdeveci AA, Sahin H, Ataman S, Griffiths B, Tennant A. Issues in cross-cultural validity: example from the adaptation, reliability, and validity testing of a Turkish version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire. Arthritis Rheum. 2004;51(1):14-19. doi:10.1002/art.20091
  • Kutlay S, Küçükdeveci A, Gönül D, Tennant A. Adaptation and vali­dation of the Turkish version of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale. Rheumatol Int 2003;23(1):21-26. doi:10.1007/s00296-002-0247-2
  • Ito S, Kobayashi D, Murasawa A, Narita I, Nakazono K. An analysis of the neuropathic pain components in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Intern Med. 2018;57(4):479-485. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.9235-17
  • Murphy AE, Minhas D, Clauw DJ, Lee YC. Identifying and managing nociplastic pain in ındividuals with rheumatic diseases: a narrative review. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023;75(10):2215-2222. doi:10. 1002/acr.25104
  • Baerwald C, Stemmler E, Gnüchtel S, et al. Predictors for severe persisting pain in rheumatoid arthritis are associated with pain origin and appraisal of pain. Ann Rheum Dis. 2024;83(10):1381-1388. doi:10. 1136/ard-2023-225414
  • Kimyon G, Kara B, Akkan M, Ergin M. Do biological therapies have any effect on neuropathic pain in rheumatoid arthritis? What are the related factors? Rheumatology Quarterly. 2024;2:4. doi:10.4274/qrheumatol.galenos.2024.02886
  • Koop SM, ten Klooster PM, Vonkeman HE, et al. Neuropathic-like pain features and cross-sectional associations in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. 2015;17(1):237. doi:10.1186/s13075-015-0761-8
  • Hassen N, Moolooghy K, Kopec J, Xie H, Khan KM, Lacaille D. Determinants of health-related quality of life in adults living with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2025.152717
  • Büyük F, Borman P, Bakırcı EŞ, et.al. The frequency of neuropathic pain and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Aktuelle Rheumatologie. 2025;50(03):177-183. doi:10.1055/a-2243-3584
  • Motyl G, Krupka WM, Maślińska M. The problem of residual pain in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity. Reumatologia. 2024;62(3): 176-186. doi:10.5114/reum/189779
  • Lassen J, Baron R. Rheumatic diseases and neuropathic pain: diagnosis and treatment. Z Rheumatol. 2021;80(3):226-233. doi:10.1007/s00393-020-00950-9
There are 24 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Rheumatology and Arthritis
Journal Section Original Article
Authors

Derya Çırakoğlu 0000-0002-7827-8032

Publication Date September 16, 2025
Submission Date June 30, 2025
Acceptance Date August 14, 2025
Published in Issue Year 2025 Volume: 8 Issue: 5

Cite

AMA Çırakoğlu D. Prevalence of the neuropathic pain component in rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relationship to disease activity: a cross-sectional study. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. September 2025;8(5):847-851. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1730961

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