EULAR 2024: Non-Articular Pain Common in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

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PainRelief.com Interview with:

Charis F. Meng, MD
Rheumatologist, Inflammatory Arthritis Center
Assistant Attending Physician
Hospital for Special Surgery
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine
Weill Cornell Medical College

PainRelief.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Non-articular pain (NAP) is common in our patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and may impact remission outcomes.  However, it is challenging for busy rheumatologists to address specific pain types in our patients with RA, as it is not well defined in the literature, nor has it been validated in RA.  NAP in RA care thus is an unmet need for both our patients with RA and rheumatologists caring for them. 

PainRelief.com: What are the main findings?

Response: We found that Non-articular pain is prevalent in over half of 392 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort in multiple sites in Canada), of which about 73% are regional NAP.  About 43% of patients with prevalent NAP persist or worsen within the first year of follow-up.  We also found a significantly higher frequency of active RA joints within the same area of NAP, especially earlier in their disease course.  This suggests there may be a role for RA inflammation contributing to NAP, but more studies are needed to evaluate this.

PainRelief.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Providers caring for patients with rheumatoid arthritis should be aware that regional Non-articular pain is common and inquire their patients about it. 

PainRelief.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: We would like to further validate Non-articular pain in patients with RA with more specific diagnoses.

I have no disclosures.

The CATCH study has received unrestricted research grants from:

  • Pfizer Canada, AbbVie Corporation, Sandoz Biopharmaceuticals Canada, Fresenius Kabi Canada, Viatris Canada, Jamp Pharma (BIOJAMP), and Celltrion Healthcare Canada
  • Support and funding from the Inflammatory Arthritis Center and the Division of Rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery, Cedar Hill Foundation and Division of Rheumatology

Citation: C. Meng et al, OP0064 Characterizing Prevalent Non-Articular Pain at Early RA Diagnosis and Evolution Over the First Year of RA Treatment: Results from the Canadian Early Arthritis Cohort Study, Scientific Abstracts (2024).

 DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2024-eular.5946

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Last Updated on June 14, 2024 by PainRelief.com