DO BIOLOGICAL THERAPIES HAVE ANY EFFECT ON NEUROPATHIC PAIN IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS? WHAT ARE THE RELATED FACTORS?

Aim:The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of neuropathic pain (NeP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are receivers and non-receivers of biological treatment. The secondary objective of our study was to identify NeP-related factors in RA. Material and Methods:This was a sectional case–control study that measured the frequency of NeP using painDETECT (pDETECT) in patients with RA being monitored in our rheumatology outpatient clinic and in the control group. In addition, along with the demographic data of the patients, the disease activity score in 28 joints calculated with C‐reactive protein (DAS28-CRP), visual analog scale (VAS) pain, VAS fatigue, Beck depression index, Beck anxiety index, health assessment questionnaire, and RA quality of life index were used. Results:A total of 105 patients with RA (60 biological, 45 conventional treatment) and 106 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. According to pDETECT, NeP was n=15 (7.1%), n=9 (4.3%), and n=13 (6.2%) in the Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD), non-receivers, and control groups, respectively. There was no statistical difference between groups who were bDMARD receivers and non-receivers (p>0.05). There was a moderate positive correlation between pDETECT and RA duration (r=0.363), VAS pain score (r=0.594), VAS fatigue score (r=0.589), DAS28-CRP score (r=0.489), Beck depression index (r=0.402), Beck anxiety index (r=0.606), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) value (r=0.226), and tender joint count (TJC) (r=0.367) (p<0.05). Conclusion:NeP is commonly observed in patients with RA, and treatment with bDMARDs did not change the frequency of NeP. A positive correlation was observed between NeP and RA disease duration, DAS28-CRP, VAS pain, VAS fatigue, Beck depression index, Beck anxiety index, ESR, and TJC. When measuring disease activity in patients with RA, NeP should not be ignored.