A scientific team observed that methotrexate, a commonly used medication, would have effects on pain related to osteoarthritis of the hand.
- Osteoarthritis of the hand is a joint disease, which mainly affects women at the age of menopause.
- Methotrexate, an effective medication against inflammatory joint conditions, would reduce the manifestations of hand osteoarthritis.
- Scientists observed a significant reduction in pain levels in participants taking a weekly oral dose of 20 mg of methotrexate.
Osteoarthritis is a joint pathology, which manifests itself by a gradual damage to the cartilage, a tissue protecting the ends of the bones. Osteoarthritis of the hand is one of the most common locations of this pathology, with a predominance in women.
A new treatment considered to relieve the symptoms of hand osteoarthritis
Currently, osteoarthritis cannot be cured. However, it is possible to control the disease and even prevent serious joint damage through appropriate treatment. Current treatments for osteoarthritis include intermittent orthosis use, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and even analgesics. In some cases, surgery and corticosteroid injections may be considered.
In a study published in the journal The Lancet, researchers observed that methotrexate, a medication primarily prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis, could relieve symptoms related to hand osteoarthritis. This condition can result in pain, stiffness or reduced strength in the fingers or hand.
Methotrexate and osteoarthritis of the hand: improvement in pain after three and six months of taking it
To reach this conclusion, scientists from Monash University and Alfred Health (Australia) carried out a randomized trial including 97 Australian participants. They divided them into two groups: the first received 20 mg of methotrexate per week, and the second a placebo. The volunteers were followed for six months.
According to the Australian team, a weekly oral dose of 20 mg of methotrexate reduced symptoms in people affected by home osteoarthritis. “In our study, pain in both the placebo group and the methotrexate group improved over the first month or so (…) However, pain levels remained the same in the placebo group, but continued to decrease in the group methotrexate after three and six months of taking. The improvement in pain in the methotrexate group was twice as great as in the placebo group.noted Professor Flavia Cicuttini, author of the study and head of the rheumatology department at The Alfred hospital.
Widely used since the 1980s, methotrexate could therefore be considered in the management of hand osteoarthritis. However, additional trials are needed to determine whether the effects of this medication last beyond six months.
