Prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients with psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and its relevance with the clinical parameteres

Prevalence of Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis and Its Relevance with the Clinical Parameteres Objective: The aim of this study is to detect neuropathic pain prevalence of patients with psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and explore its correlation with disease activity, functional capacity. Methods: There are 48 PsA patients, 53 RA patients and 38 patients with non inflammatory musculoskeletal disease involved in this study. Demographic data of patients and information about their disease (disease duration, subtype of PsA, medications) were recorded to forms at their routine control at outpatient clinic. Neuropathic pain analysis was made by Pain Detect (PD) Questionnaire, disease activity was measured with DAS28 calculator for both PsA and RA patients, functional status was measured by Health Assesment Questionnaire (HAQ). Results: Mean age was 52 (21-79) for PsA patients, 54 (21- 83) for RA patients and 54 (20-77) for control patients. There was no significant difference for age between three groups (p=0.922). Mean disease duration was 5 year for PsA and RA, 3.5 year for control group. There was no difference for disease duration between groups (p=0.354).Mean PD score was 13 for PsA, 11 for RA and 14 for control patients but there was no statistical significant difference between the groups (p=0, 24). Mean HAQ score was 0.65 for PsA, 0.8 for RA and 0.55 for control patients but there was no statistical significant difference between the groups (p=0.096). Mean DAS28 score was 3.5 for PsA, 3.38 for RA patients. There was no statistical significant difference between the groups (p=0.648). There was a statistically significant positively week correlation between PD score and HAQ score (Ro= 0.460, p= 0.001), as also between PD and VAS score for patients with PsA (Ro= 0.475, p= 0.001).There was a statistically significant positively moderate correlation between PD score and DAS28 score (Ro=0.597, p=0) as also between PD and HAQ score for patients with RA (Ro=0.525, p=0). Conclusion: Neuropathic pain prevalence was similar between the patients with PsA, RA and non inflammatory musculoskeletal disease. It is important for treatment to evaluate patients with inflammatory arthritis also for neuropathic pain component existence. Key Words: Psoriatic arthritis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Neuropathic pain