The Pathway of Pain – From Basic Science to Clinical Approach

Christopher Watson
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Abstract

Satellite Symposium held at the 2011 European Congress of Rheumatology, European League Against Rheumat ism (EULAR) , London
Keywords
Osteoarthritis, joint pain, inflammation, peripheral/central sensitisation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid, diclofenac
Disclosure The editorial content of this article was developed independently by Touch Briefings based on presentations at the IBSA Satellite Symposium held at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress held in London between 25 and 28 May 2011. The publication of this article was funded by IBSA (Institut Biochimique SA).

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder worldwide. It is closely associated with ageing and is a major cause of chronic disability in older adults.1,2 OA is characterised pathologically by progressive articular cartilage destruction and loss, new bone formation at the joint margins, changes in the subchondral bone, varying degrees of synovitis and thickening of the joint capsule.3 These pathological changes result in a range of symptoms, including pain, reduced function, joint enlargement, deformity, swelling and joint instability or buckling. Joint pain, worsened by weight-bearing activity, is the most prominent symptom of OA and has a significant impact on the function and quality of life of people with OA. As a result, joint pain is the major reason these patients seek medical help.4,5 However, the conditions under which OA pain occurs are presently ill-defined, as is its pathogenesis, but the symptoms may be exacerbated by trauma, obesity and psychological factors.3,6 In the absence of effective preventive strategies, a major focus of OA management is therefore pain relief and, to this end, a number of pharmacological and non-pharmacological modalities are available.

The Institut Biochimique SA (IBSA) satellite symposium, ‘The Pathway of Pain: from Basic Science to Clinical Approach’, held at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Annual Congress in London on 26 May 2011, provided an up-to-date overview of the pathophysiology of joint pain in OA and the different therapeutic approaches available for personalised pain management. The symposium was chaired by Professor Hans-Georg Kress from Austria, who also gave a presentation on the mechanisms responsible for joint pain in OA. Professor Xavier Chevalier (France) then discussed the management strategies for acute and chronic pain in OA, followed by presentations from Dr Rachel Leeson (London) and Professor Thomas Dietrich (Birmingham, UK and Boston, USA) that discussed the latest clinical data relating to a new intramuscular (i.m.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) diclofenac formulation as a treatment for moderate to severe acute pain.

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Keywords: joint pain knee, arthritis knee brace, best pain relief for arthritis, knee brace osteoarthritis, natural remedies for arthritis pain
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