Praktické lekárnictvo 2/2024
Chronic pain in patients with osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the leading causes of chronic pain and its prevalence is increasing in line with the global ageing of the population. To date, there are no pharmacological interventions to slow the progression of OA, and pain-relieving therapies are also largely unsuccessful. Local inflammation in the joint may contribute to mechanical sensitization and structural neuroplasticity of joint nociceptors via proinflammatory factors such as nerve growth factor, cytokines, and chemokines. Early and safe pain management according to national recommendations is an essential part of osteoarthritis care.
Keywords: osteoarthritis, chronic pain, nerve growth factor, opioid and non‑opioid analgesics
