RESEARCH - Impact of transdermal fentanyl on quality of life in RA

December 4, 2008

Clin J Pain. 2007 Jul-Aug;23(6):530-4.

Impact of transdermal fentanyl on quality of life in rheumatoid arthritis.

Berliner MN, Giesecke T, Bornhövd KD.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, HELIOS Klinikum

Berlin-Buch, Teaching Hospital of the Humboldt University Berlin,

Hobrechtsfelder Chaussee 100, 13125 Berlin, Germany.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to investigate the

effectiveness and tolerability of transdermal fentanyl in a treatment

regimen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS: Two hundred twenty-six patients (mean age 66 y) with severe

pain caused by RA who had not previously been treated with transdermal

fentanyl were included in this prospective, open-label study. Pain

intensity, functional impairment, and well-being were documented

prospectively for 30 days after treatment with transdermal fentanyl

had been initiated. Patients evaluated pain on an 11-point numerical

rating scale. Quality of sleep, daily and social functioning, and

treatment satisfaction were rated using 5-point categorical rating

scales. General well-being was assessed by the Marburg questionnaire.

RESULTS: Adding transdermal fentanyl to the ongoing RA therapy reduced

pain intensity significantly from 8.0 (7.82 to 8.18) to 4.0 (3.75 to

4.25). Mean functional impairment due to pain also decreased

significantly from " severe " at the beginning to " mild to moderate. "

Treatment with transdermal fentanyl also led to a significant

improvement by approximately 1.5 units for all items in the Marburg

questionnaire on general well-being. At the end of the study, nearly

all patients were satisfied with the pain treatment. Transdermal

fentanyl was generally well tolerated. The most frequent side effects

were nausea (9.7%) and vomiting (7.1%).

DISCUSSION: Patients with pain caused by RA improved in terms of pain

intensity, sleep, function, and general well-being when transdermal

fentanyl was added to the treatment regimen. Treatment satisfaction

was high. Transdermal fentanyl also demonstrated good tolerability

over a period of 30 days.

PMID: 17575494

Not an MD

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