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Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the neuropathic component of chronic musculoskeletal pain in post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and examine the relationship between neuropathic pain and clinical and demographic characteristics. Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study included 163 adult patients (85 females, 78 males; mean age: 41.7±4.3 years; range, 22 to 50 years) with post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal pain between February 1, 2021, and April 30, 2021. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including age, sex, affected site, duration, and severity of post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as a neuropathic component of pain using the Leeds assessment of neuropathic symptoms and signs (LANSS), were collected. The most common post-COVID-19 symptoms, presence of hospitalization, and length of hospital stay during active COVID-19 infection were recorded from the patient records. Results: The mean duration and severity of pain were 7.85±1.53 months and 5.09±1.95, respectively. Half of the patients were hospitalized, and the mean length of hospital stay was 12.15±18.06 days. The most common pain sites were upper and lower back pain, followed by leg and arm pain. A total of 92 (56.4%) patients had previously received pharmacological or nonpharmacological treatment for post-COVID-19 musculoskeletal pain. Based on the LANSS (scores >12), 31 (19%) patients had neuropathic pain. There was a significant correlation between the presence of neuropathic pain and pulmonary involvement/symptoms. The presence and length of hospital stay were correlated with LANNS scores (p<0.05). The frequency, LANSS scores, and VAS-pain scores of the patients with and without neuropathic pain were similar between male and female patients (p>0.05). Conclusion: The neuropathic component of chronic musculoskeletal pain may be common, as one-fifth of our patients had neuropathic pain as assessed by the LANNS. Therefore, the awareness of post-COVID-19 chronic neuropathic musculoskeletal pain should be increased. We believe that focusing on the identification of pain phenotypes would provide adequate and tailored chronic neuropathic musculoskeletal pain management in the post-COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, fatigue, the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene mutations, and other disease-related variables in patients with Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) associated spondyloarthropathies (SpA). Materials and Methods: Consecutively, 45 patients with FMF associated SpA (41 females, 4 males) and 40 healthy controls were included. Metrological measures (finger-floor distance, dorsal Schober's test, occiput-wall distance and chest expansion) were determined. Axial and peripheral joint pain was evaluated by using visual analog scale (VAS), disease activity by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity index and function by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional index. Short Form-36 and the multidimensional assessment of fatigue (MAF) scale, Beck depression index (BDI) and MAF scales were used to evaluate HRQoL, depression and fatigue. Results: Mean ages of the patients was 43.73±8.7 (24-59) years. Both physical and mental HRQoL were found to be significantly worse in FMF associated SpA patients than in controls. Twelve patients (26.6%) had clinical depression with BDI scores ≥17. MAF score was high in patients with FMF associated SpA. The most frequent mutations were M694V and E148Q in patients with FMF associated SpA. No significant effect of MEFV gene mutations was seen on QoL, fatigue, depression, pain and disease-related variables. Conclusion: FMF associated SpA significantly affects the QoL of its sufferers, as other chronic ilnesses. In this study, both physical and mental HRQoL were found to be significantly worse in FMF associated SpA patients than in controls, irrespective of the MEFV gene mutations. Depression was also seen in high rates in patients with FMF associated SpA. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of MEFV gene mutations on disease severity and QoL in FMF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a disease of unknown etiology, which is characterised by chronic pain. Disturbed growth hormone response, low serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) may play a role in etiopathogenesis of fibromyalgia and may be related to the severity of some symptom. The aim of this study is to investigate serum IGF-1 levels and relationship of clinical symptoms in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome. Materials and Methods: Thirty-seven patients with FMS and thirty healthy subjects were included in this study. All individuals were assessed for clinical findings, widespread pain (Visual Analogue Scale), functional disability and health state (health assesment questionnarie and fibromyalgia impact questionnarie), anxiety (anxiety State and Trait Anxiety Inventory) and depression (Beck depression inventory). Likert scale was used for evaluate morning stiffness, level of fatigue, pain, muscle spasm and tenderness. Results: In this study, serum IGF-1 levels of patients with fibromyalgia were significantly lower compared to the control group (p=0.004). The IGF-1 levels were significantly correlated with age (r=- 0.496; p<0.01), muscle spasm (r=-0.333; p<0.05), tender points (r=-456; p<0.01) and morning stiffness (r=-0.463; p<0.01). Conclusion: Low levels of serum IGF-1 in female patients with fibromyalgia syndrome were associated with number of tender points, muscle spasm and stiffness. We have concluded that low levels of serum IGF-1 might play role in the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia and might be related to severity of symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether vitamin D deficiency in patients with musculoskeletal pain who were admitted to our hospital and to establish the difference between vitamin D levels according to gender and age groups. Materials and Methods: Among 28.702 patients, 857 (3%) patients whose vitamin D levels were studied were included in the study. Serum 25(OH) D level was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The patients were divided into three groups according to 25(OH) D level as; Group 1: >30 μg/L (sufficient), group 2: 10-30 μg/L (moderate insufficient), and group 3: <10 μg/L (severe insufficient). Results: The mean age of the patients were 49.1±14.5 (18-87) years and the mean serum vitamin D levels of patients admitted to our hospital were found 15.3±10.3 μg/L. The 25(OH) vitamin D levels of 91% (780) patients were below normal limits. In 44.2% (379) of the patients, 25(OH) D level was <10 μg/L and severe deficiency were found. Vitamin D levels were lower in females than those in males. Secondary hyperparathyroidism was detected in 17% (146) of the patients. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency, which is still an important world-wide medical problem despite all preventive measures, is commonly seen in our country and affects especially female population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]