{"id":81411,"date":"2017-08-02T13:06:18","date_gmt":"2017-08-02T13:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/could-painkillers-be-hiding-serious-arthritis-condition-from-doctors\/"},"modified":"2017-08-02T13:06:18","modified_gmt":"2017-08-02T13:06:18","slug":"could-painkillers-be-hiding-serious-arthritis-condition-from-doctors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/healthmedicinet.com\/news\/could-painkillers-be-hiding-serious-arthritis-condition-from-doctors\/","title":{"rendered":"Could painkillers be hiding serious arthritis condition from doctors?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n Could anti-inflammatory drugs be masking serious arthritis condition, University of Aberdeen to explore. Credit: University of Aberdeen
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Thousands of patients with an inflammatory arthritis condition might be being mis-diagnosed because the pain killers they take hide the problem from doctors.\n <\/p>\n

A new University of Aberdeen study, funded by Arthritis Research UK, aims to see how big a role patients’ medication plays in slowing down diagnosis<\/a> of axial spondyloarthritis.<\/p>\n

It is estimated around 700,000 people<\/a> in the UK live daily with inflammatory back pain.<\/p>\n

Most manage the pain with anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen or other slightly stronger variants whilst they wait to have the condition formally diagnosed by a rheumatologist.<\/p>\n

Axial spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory condition affecting the spine and joints in the pelvis and in extreme cases can lead to parts of the spine fusing together.<\/p>\n

It is diagnosed using MRI scans after which it cannot be cured but can be managed with special anti-inflammatory medication.<\/p>\n

Researchers behind the study suspect that some people who undergo an MRI scan receive a negative diagnosis for axial spondyloarthritis because the Ibuprofen-like drugs they are taking sufficiently reduce the inflammation and ‘hide’ the symptoms.<\/p>\n

Early diagnosis is key to preventing axial spondyloarthritis getting worse but typically it can take between 8-11 years to be properly identified.<\/p>\n

This study will give an indication as to what proportion of axial spondyloarthritis are mis-diagnosed as a result of the anti-inflammatory drugs.<\/p>\n

Two hundred and fifty patients with the condition will be recruited to the study from around 20 different centres. They will stop taking their regular anti-inflammatory drugs (Ibuprofen, etc) for a week and then given an MRI scan. They will then start taking the drugs again for six weeks before receiving a second MRI scan.<\/p>\n

The researchers will then compare the proportion of people who scanned positive for axial spondyloarthritis with those who scanned negative for the condition once they are back on them.<\/p>\n

Lead researcher, Dr Gareth Jones, a musculoskeletal pain and spondyloarthritis expert, 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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“This study aims to show whether or not these drugs do mask the condition, and what proportion of sufferers could potentially be affected. If we see that the pain killers<\/a> are indeed leading to negative diagnoses then it will lend support to the argument that anyone receiving an MRI scan for back pain should halt their regular anti-inflammatory medication for a week or so prior to the scan.”<\/p>\n

Stephen Simpson, director of research programmes at Arthritis Research UK, added: “Axial spondyloarthritis is an incredibly painful condition, which can have a devastating impact on a person’s everyday life. For example, those with ankylosing spondylitis are three times more likely to stop work than the general population.<\/p>\n

“This new research will prompt conversations around whether patients should be asked to refrain from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs<\/a> immediately prior to an MRI scan and to rely, instead, on other pain<\/a> relief during this specific period. This research could lead to earlier diagnosis for people living with the condition, leading to earlier commencement of appropriate treatment and improved outcome.”\n <\/p>\n

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\n Explore further:<\/b>
\n Spondyloarthritis features can identify axial spondyloarthritis<\/a>\n <\/p>\n