Pain Remission in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis with Venlafaxine

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a progressive chronic spine condition that is manifested by inflammation that primarily involves the sacroiliac joints. This case report summarizes the diagnosis and the available treatments of AS and then describes a 40-year-old gentleman with AS who experienced a marked decrease in pain when the antidepressant venlafaxine was added during treatment of an episode of major depressive disorder (MDD). The patient wanted to indefinitely maintain venlafaxine treatment for the management of AS associated chronic pain which contributed to his permanent disability and unemployability. The outcome of this single case report is incidental and could not be generalized or implemented as an evidence-based intervention for pain management in AS. Further randomized clinical trials (RTCs) need to be conducted to confirm the beneficial effects of antidepressants in alleviating AS associated pain