impact factor, citescore
logo
In press
In Press
Recent issue
Recent issue
Recent Supplement
Recent supplement
archives
Archives
articles free
Free to view
Search
Search
 

Full Papers

 

Bone mineral density is associated with pre-treatment pain levels of complex regional pain syndrome type 1 and predicts the response to N-containing bisphosphonates

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

 

  1. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  2. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  3. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  4. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  5. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  6. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  7. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  8. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  9. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  10. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy.
  11. Rheumatology Unit, University of Verona, Italy. giovanni.adami@univr.it

CER18715
2025 Vol.43, N°6
PI 1069, PF 1073
Full Papers

Free to view
(click on article PDF icon to read the article)

PMID: 40556624 [PubMed]

Received: 13/03/2025
Accepted : 12/05/2025
In Press: 19/06/2025
Published: 27/06/2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS type 1) is a debilitating pain disorder that often follows trauma or surgery. While bone involvement has been implicated in its pathogenesis, the relationship between systemic bone loss and disease severity or treatment response remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between systemic bone loss and CRPS severity and response to treatment.
METHODS:
This prospective observational study enrolled patients with CRPS type 1 diagnosed per IASP criteria. Inclusion criteria were recent post-trauma CRPS (<4 weeks) and treatment initiation within 2 months. Patients received IV neridronate (100 mg/day for 4 days, total 400 mg). Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at baseline and 30 days post-treatment. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure one mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip. Stepwise linear regression and mixed-effects models assessed predictors of baseline pain and treatment response.
RESULTS:
Sixty-five CRPS type 1 patients were included in the study. Baseline VAS pain was 70.9±2.19, significantly decreasing to 24±3.8 post-treatment (p<0.001). Lower lumbar spine Z-score correlated with higher baseline pain and predicted greater pain reduction following neridronate (β=-8.7, SE 3.2, p=0.008) independently from age, sex, BMI and limb affected.
CONCLUSIONS:
Lower BMD was associated with greater CRPS severity and better response to treatment. These findings support the role of bone in CRPS pathogenesis and suggest that DXA-derived Z-scores may help identify patients most likely to benefit from bisphosphonates.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55563/clinexprheumatol/d4fdnb

Rheumatology Article