Painkillers may hide arthritis

Wednesday August 2nd, 2017

Researchers are investigating the possibility that long-term use of painkillers may sometime obscure underlying inflammatory arthritis.

Individuals may be managing what is really arthritis pain with anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen, or stronger painkillers, say Dr Gareth Jones of the University of Aberdeen, UK, and colleagues.

The researchers are studying axial spondyloarthritis and have recruited 250 patients from 20 centres in the UK. Participants are asked to stop taking their usual anti-inflammatory drugs for a week, after which they will receive an MRI scan. Their drugs will be re-started, and another scan taken after six weeks.

Dr Jones said: "The fact that it can take up to 11 years to get a formal diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis is obviously a concern. There are good drugs to help people manage the condition but they are only available to people who get a correct diagnosis.

"We suspect some people who are getting scanned for the condition, who still have anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen in their system, are scanning negative for axial spondyloarthritis because the drugs are masking the true extent of the inflammation."

Stephen Simpson of Arthritis Research UK, who are partly funding the study, added: "This new research will prompt conversations around whether patients should be asked to refrain from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs immediately prior to a scan. This could lead to earlier diagnosis for people living with the condition, leading to earlier commencement of appropriate treatment and improved outcome."

Tags: Pain Relief | Pharmaceuticals | Rheumatology | UK News

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