Comparison of the different pain assessment scales used in adult patients seen at the Philippine General Hospital rheumatology out-patient clinic

BACKGROUND: Valid and reliable assessment of pain is essential in the management of rheumatologic conditions. Standardized pain assessment scales have been developed and used in clinical trials, but remain underutilized in clinical practice. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the different pain assessment scales: Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), Verbal Descriptive Scale (VDS),Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Wong Baker Face Scale (FACES) among adult patients with musculoskeletal pain seen in the Rheumatology Out-Patient Clinic in a tertiary government hospital in Manila, Philippines. METHODS: This is a cross sectional study of adult patients with symptoms of musculoskeletal pain seen in a rheumatology out-patient clinic. The patients answered the different pain assessment scales and ranked them according to ease of use and preference. We checked for correlation of results of the different pain assessment scales using Spearman correlation.      RESULTS: Ninety-four patients are included in this study. Eighty-one percent are females, with mean age of 52 (±SD 14.12) years old. Majority (73%) have low level of education. Forty-one percent have rheumatoid arthritis, 21% have osteoarthritis and 12% have gout. NRS is preferred and ranked easiest to use by 41.5% of patients. FACES is a close second; preferred by 39.4% and considered easy to use by 36.2% VAS ranks last on over-all preference and ease of use. On subgroup analysis, VDS was preferred by male patients while FACES was preferred by those with low educational status. The pain score obtained using NRS was significantly correlated with VDS, VAS, and FACES (p= CONCLUSION: The NRS is a validated tool that is easy to use and preferred by patients. The FACES is a good alternative if the patient has difficulty with the NRS. We recommend the use of these pain scales in clinical practice in the Philippines to standardize the assessment and monitoring of pain among patients with rheumatic conditions

A case of Churg-Strauss syndrome presenting with foot drop

BACKGROUND: Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS), or eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, is a rare syndrome that affects small- to medium-sized arteries and veins. Criteria for the diagnosis include: asthma (wheezing, expiratory rhonchi), eosinophilia of more than 10% in peripheral blood, paranasal sinusitis, pulmonary infiltrates (may be transient), histological proof of vasculitis with extravascular eosinophils, and mononeuritis multiplex or polyneuropathy. The worldwide incidence of CSS is approximately 2.5 cases per 100,000 adults per year and its incidence in the United States is one to three cases per 100,000 adults per year.1 In the Philippines, the exact incidence is unknown with very few published case reports about it.SETTING: University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), a tertiary training hospital in Manila, PhilippinesTHE CASE: A 40-year-old Filipino male with a history of adult onset asthma and recurrent sinusitis manifesting with inability to dorsiflex the left ankle (foot drop), various dermatologic lesions, and arthralgia. Complete blood count showed hypereosinophilia. Electromyography revealed asymmetric moderate to severe sensory and motor denervation of limbs compatible with polyneuropathy. Skin biopsy revealed lymphocytic vasculitis. P-ANCA was positive. During his incumbent hospitalization, the skin lesions, arthralgia and neurologic manifestations improved on administration of high dose steroids. Pregabalin was used to control pain secondary to the mononeuritis multiplex.SIGNIFICANCE: To report a rare case of ChurgStrauss syndrome presenting as foot drop. This case highlights the importance of considering ChurgStrauss syndrome among adult patients presenting with neurologic complaint (inability to dorsiflex the left ankle/foot drop) and various dermatologic lesions.