Research in hand osteoarthritis: time for reappraisal and demand for new strategies. An opinion paper.
BACKGROUND
Osteoarthritis of the hands is a prevalent musculoskeletal disease with a considerable effect on patients' lives, but knowledge and research results in the field of hand osteoarthritis are limited. Therefore, the Disease Characteristics in Hand OA (DICHOA) initiative was founded in early 2005 with the aim of addressing key issues and facilitating research into hand osteoarthritis.


OBJECTIVE
To review and discuss current knowledge on hand osteoarthritis with regard to aetiopathogenesis, diagnostic criteria, biomarkers and clinical outcome measures.


METHODS
Recommendations were made based on a literature review.


RESULTS
Outcomes of hand osteoarthritis should be explored, including patient perspective on the separate components of disease activity, damage and functioning. All imaging techniques should be cross-validated for hand osteoarthritis with clinical status, including disease activity, function and performance, biomarkers and long-term outcome. New imaging modalities are available and need scoring systems and validation. The role of biomarkers in hand osteoarthritis has to be defined.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research in hand osteoarthritis is warranted.
Kloppenburg
Margreet
M
Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. g.kloppenburg@lumc.nl
Stamm
Tanja
T
Watt
Iain
I
Kainberger
Franz
F
Cawston
Tim E
TE
Birrell
Fraser N
FN
Petersson
Ingemar F
IF
Saxne
Tore
T
Kvien
Tore K
TK
Slatkowsky-Christensen
Barbara
B
Dougados
Maxime
M
Gossec
Laure
L
Breedveld
Ferdinand C
FC
Smolen
Josef S
JS
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000473:pathology; D006227:Hand Deformities, Acquired / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012106:Research; D012307:Risk Factors; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology
D015415:Biomarkers