RESEARCH - Abrupt temperature change triggers arthralgia in patients with JRA

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J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2006 Dec;39(6):465-70.

Abrupt temperature change triggers arthralgia in patients with

juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Tsai WS, Yang YH, Wang LC, Chiang BL.

Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is the

most common form of arthritis in children and affects both quality of

life and school attendance. Weather and temperature conditions are

believed to affect joint pains; however, very few studies have

investigated this issue. This study examined the association between

joint pain in JRA patients and weather conditions.

METHODS: The daily pain ratings of 52 patients previously diagnosed

with JRA were recorded on visual analog scales over 4 months beginning

January 1, 2004. These ratings were then compared with weather data to

evaluate possible correlation between these two factors.

RESULTS: Twenty nine patients kept daily records during the first 2

months. There was no positive correlation between weather parameters

(such as temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure) and pain

ratings. Interestingly, the pain rating significantly increased the

day after the advent of a cold wave (sign test, p<0.01; Wilcoxon

signed ranks test, p=0.001). The number of patients who experienced

joint swelling was not related to weather conditions. Twenty one

participants continued maintaining the diaries during the next 2

months. The patients reported higher pain levels in the first 2 months

during the cold wave period than in the next 2 months when the cold

wave period had ended (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION: A dramatic weather change such as a sudden cold wave might

influence the experience of joint pain.

PMID: 17164948

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17164948

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