The results of the low-dose prednisolone in patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOPE) study presented on 12th June at the Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) show that low-dose prednisolone significantly improves pain and function in patients with painful hand osteoarthritis.

Hand osteoarthritis is a common joint disease. It is characterised by stiff and painful joints. Given the burden of disease, there is a need for effective therapeutic options.

Treatments are currently limited to topical and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain. However, studies have shown that synovial inflammation is often present in hand osteoarthritis and it is this inflammation that is a main determinant of pain and radiographic disease progression, identifying synovitis as a possible target of treatment. Prednisolone is a glucocorticoid used to reduce inflammation and has been used in rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia, lupus and vasculitis for a long time. However, glucocorticoid use is currently not recommended in patients with hand osteoarthritis due to a previous lack of evidence.

“Hand osteoarthritis is a common musculoskeletal disease, with prevalence rising steeply with increasing age,” said Professor John D. Isaacs, Chairperson of the Abstract Selection Committee, EULAR. “Oral glucocorticoid therapy was not included in the recent treatment guidelines update due to limited conflicting data, therefore we welcome these positive results that provide further, controlled evidence in this area.”

Results presented on 12th June demonstrated that prednisolone (10mg) provides a significant improvement in pain with an average -16.5 point difference in VAS finger pain (95% confidence interval (CI); -26.1 to -6.9) and a -3.5 point difference in AUSCAN pain (95% CI; -4.9 to -2.1, p<0.001). In addition, 72% vs. 33% of patients treated with prednisolone and placebo respectively were classified as responders using the OMERACT-OARSI responder criteria. Prednisolone was shown to significantly improve function with an adjusted mean between-group difference of -3.7 points in AUSCAN function (p=0.01) and -2.1 points in FIHOA (p=0.03). Significant differences were also shown in SF-36 physical component scale and the VAS patient global assessment. A significant reduction in synovitis was also demonstrated using ultrasound.

“Our study provides evidence that local inflammation is a suitable target for drug treatment in hand osteoarthritis,” said Féline Kroon, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands. “Significant improvements in pain and function were seen in the trial meaning prednisolone could be considered by physicians treating people suffering with hand osteoarthritis.”

The study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 92 patients with painful hand osteoarthritis (fulfilling American College of Rheumatology criteria) and signs of synovial inflammation. Eligible patients were randomised to receive prednisolone 10mg daily for 6 weeks or placebo, followed by a two-week tapering scheme and six weeks without study medication. The mean age of patients was 63.9 years and 79% were women with baseline characteristics well-balanced between the groups. After tapering, all between group differences disappeared, and adverse events were mostly mild and comparable between groups.

This article is a news release from Annual European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR 2019) Meeting. Read the original here.