title: Analysis of patients with post-chemotherapy arthralgia and arthritis in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the characteristics of arthropathy and musculoskeletal pain after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we evaluate the characteristics of 15 patients with joint symptoms after receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer. Demographic information including sex, age, time of rheumatologic findings after starting of chemotherapy, and time of improvement after starting of medication, and laboratory findings detected for each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients comprised 15 women with mean age 43.4 ± 10.6 years that received classic chemotherapy for breast cancer according to stage of disease including cyclophosphamide, and tamoxifen. Joint symptoms usually began about 6 months after the first session of chemotherapy. Patients had an average of 2 tender joints and 1 hour of morning stiffness. None of patients were positive for anti-nuclear antibody, and just 1 patient was positive for rheumatoid factor. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARD), corticosteroids, and venlafaxine were prescribed. 5 patients did not show an improvement and were also given low dose oral corticosteroids. Follow-up was available for all patients. 13 patients showed favorable responses, characterized by a significant decrease (more than 50%) in morning stiffness, pain, and tender joint counts after a mean of 3 months' treatment. 9 patients had complete resolution of symptoms and stopped all medications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy-related arthropathy is not rare, and the prognosis is fairly good with early treatment using NSAID, DMARD, and corticosteroids.
authors: Molecular and Cell Biology Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. aref104@gmail.com
authors: Aref Hosseinian
authors: AH
authors: Amiri
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Rafiei
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001168:Arthritis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D013629:Tamoxifen; D003520:Cyclophosphamide