Aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia and/ or bone pain: frequency and characterization in non-clinical trial patients.
BACKGROUND
The frequency of aromatase inhibitor (AI)-associated arthralgia and/or bone pain in clinical practice is not known.


METHODS
Fifty-six consecutive patients with breast cancer not on clinical trials who were receiving AIs in a clinical practice were interviewed regarding occurrence of worsening or new arthralgia and/or bone pain after starting AI therapy. The occurrence, character, severity, and resolution of pain were evaluated.


RESULTS
Arthralgia and/or bone pain was reported in 61% of patients. It was severe in 30%, continuous in 41%, central in 50%, peripheral in 79%, and resulted in discontinuation of the drug in 20% of patients. Effective therapies in controlling pain were acetaminophen, 29%; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 50%; opiates, 18%, and glucosamine in 15% of patients. Despite this, 20% of patients discontinued AI therapy because of pain.


CONCLUSIONS
Aromatase inhibitor-associated pain is more frequent in patients not in clinical trials than previously appreciated in clinical trials. Improved patient education is needed, and prompt therapeutic management of pain is required to ensure continued drug treatment and improved quality of life.
Presant
Cary A
CA
Wilshire Oncology Medical Group, West Covina, CA 91790, USA. cary.presant@womgi.com
Bosserman
Linda
L
Young
Traci
T
Vakil
Mayank
M
Horns
Richard
R
Upadhyaya
Gargi
G
Ebrahimi
Behnam
B
Yeon
Christina
C
Howard
Frank
F
D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*
D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors