Comparison of the Efficacy of Duloxetine and Pregabalin in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis With Mix Type Pain

Comparison of the Efficacy of Duloxetine and Pregabalin in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis With Mix Type Pain

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disorder associated with chronic pain at older age.It is known that patients with osteoarthritis experience nociceptive and neuropathic pain to varying degrees. Addition of molecules targeting neuropathic pain to conventional therapy has been shown to improve treatment response in the management of osteoarthritis.The aim of our study is to evaluate the effect of duloxetine and pregabalin on pain, functional capacity, quality of life, depression, anxiety and sleep patterns in knee osteoarthritis.

A total of 66 patients (aged 40-69) with knee osteoarthritis were randomized into two treatment groups to receive either duloxetine 60mg/day or pregabalin 300mg/day. The patients were evaluated before and one month after treatment and three months after treatment using the visual analog scale (VAS-pain), Neuropathic Pain Diagnostic Questionnaire (DN4), Short Form-36 (SF-36) Questionnaire, Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis İndeks (WOMAC), Beck Depression Scale (BDS), Beck Anxiety Akalası (BAS), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 40-69
• Diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria
• Grade 2-3 knee osteoarthritis according to Kellgren-Lawrence grading system
• VAS-pain score: 4 and above
• Neuropathic Pain Diagnostic Questionnaire (DN4) score: 4 and above
• Body mass index value: 40 and below

Exclusion Criteria:

• A history of trauma or surgical operation in the knee region
• Diabetes mellitus
• Fibromyalgia
• Inflammatory rheumatic disease
• Central or peripheral neurological disorder
• Severe cardiac, pulmonary, or malignant disease
• Invasive treatment for knee last 3 months