Derya CIRAKOGLU, Yeliz Kasko ARICI
Annals of Clinical and Analytical Medicine - 2026;17(6):576-581
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the neuropathic component of pain in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and to assess its correlation with clinical parameters, depression, and sleep quality. Methods: The study included 80 AS patients along with 50 controls who were matched for age and sex. Disease activity was evaluated using the BASDAI and ASDAS; functional status with the BASFI; spinal mobility with the BASMI; quality of life with the ASQoL; sleep quality with the PSQI; depression with the BDI; and neuropathic pain (NP) with the PainDETECT questionnaire (PD-Q). Results: According to PD-Q, the proportion of NP was 28.75% in the AS group and 0% in the control group. Similarly, AS patients had higher points for BDI and PSQI (respectively, p=0.003; p<0.001). When AS patients were grouped according to PD-Q, the probable NP group had significantly higher points for VAS-pain (p<0.001), ASQoL (p=0.003), BASDAI (p<0.001), ASDAS-ESR (p<0.001), ASDAS-CRP (p<0.001), BASFI (p<0.001), BDI (p=0.001), and PSQI (p<0.001), relative to the uncertain NP and non-NP groups. Conclusion: In our study, the presence of the neuropathic component of pain in patients with AS was identified compared to a control group. This situation was associated with high disease activity, limited functional status, poor quality of life, increased incidence of depression, and reduced sleep quality.
