Therapeutic trials in hand osteoarthritis: a critical review.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a critical review of the published therapeutic trials conducted in hand osteoarthritis (OA).


METHODS
A Medline research was performed to select the clinical trials in hand OA published since 1994.


RESULTS
Twenty-five published studies were identified by this research, of which 10 were reported in abstract or short report forms. The trials were classified according to the study drug, and their methods and results examined. The critical analysis focuses on the design, the inclusion and efficacy criteria and the methodological limitations in all of these studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Methodological restrictions of the studies are elucidated, such as the need for a consensus on diagnosis of hand OA, the need of valid, reliable and sensitive to change clinical assessment tools and validated radiological assessment methods in order to conduct trials in the future.
Mejjad
O
O
Department of Rheumatology, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire de Rouen, France. Otthmane.Mejjad@chu-rouen.fr
Maheu
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E
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal