Time to redefine erosive osteoarthritis

Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis: Recent Advances and Future Treatments

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) is an aggressive form of hand osteoarthritis that leads to significant disability, and recent data suggests that it is increasing in prevalence. This review provides an update of our current understanding of epidemiology, genetic associations, biomarkers, pathogenesis, and treatment of EHOA, with particular focus on studies published within the last 5 years.

RECENT FINDINGS

New studies of EHOA have identified new genetic loci associated with disease, including variants in genes involved in inflammation and bone remodeling. Preclinical studies implicate pathways of innate immunity, including some that may be causal in the condition. Recent novel studies showed that inflammatory features identified by ultrasound and MRI are associated with development of erosive lesions over time on conventional radiography. In the future, these imaging modalities may be useful in identifying patients at risk of adverse outcomes. Promising new findings in genetics, biomarkers, and treatment targets will hopefully allow for future therapeutic options for this debilitating condition.

The High Clinical Burden of Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis is Associated with Clinical Findings, Pain, and Radiographic Severity

Varying reports exist on the clinical impact of erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) in terms of pain and articular function. Few studies have assessed the association of a patient's clinical features with the presence of more severe radiographic disease. The aim was to evaluate clinical and radiographic characteristics in EHOA comparing with non-erosive (NEHOA); to examine pain and functional impairment between EHOA and NEHOA; and correlate functional impairment with clinical findings, pain, and radiographic severity.

METHODS

62 patients with EHOA and 57 with NEHO were included. Pain was assessed through Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) pain subdomain. Functioning was evaluated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) concerning hand function and AUSCAN. Radiographs were scored with the Kallman scale and subchondral erosions with the Verbruggen-Veys method. Student t-tests were used for comparing quantitative data, chi-squared tests for categorical variables, and Pearson or Spearman tests for assessing correlation.

RESULTS

Patients with EHOA reported significantly higher levels of pain on the VAS and AUSCAN (p<0.01). In EHOA, VAS positively correlated with the HAQ and AUSCAN scales (rho=0.68 and 0.77). In NEHOA, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) positively and strongly correlated with HAQ and AUSCAN (rho=0.84 and 0.89). Nodes, Kallman score and erosions showed a positive but weak correlation with HAQ and AUSCAN in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Both EHOA and NEHOA participants had functional impairment, but the erosive subtype had higher clinical burden and increased joint damage. This higher clinical burden is attributed mainly to pain.

Erosive hand osteoarthritis: latest findings and outlook

Osteoarthritis (OA) most commonly affects knee joints, and the next most commonly affected sites are the hands and hips. Three distinct hand OA phenotypes have been described: erosive hand OA (EHOA), nodal hand OA - also known as non-erosive hand OA (non-EHOA) - and first carpometacarpal joint OA. EHOA predominantly affects women and is the most aggressive form of hand OA, characterized by a severe clinical onset and progression, leading to joint damage, disability and reduction of quality of life. Clinical signs of inflammation associated with EHOA include the acute onset of pain, swelling and redness. Moreover, EHOA is characterized by radiographic features such as central erosion, saw-tooth and gull-wing lesions and, rarely, ankylosis. The aim of this Review is to report the latest findings on epidemiology, clinical features, pathology and aetiopathogenesis, biomarkers, imaging modalities and treatments for EHOA. The ongoing development of new hand OA classification criteria should facilitate standardization between studies.

Hand Erosive Osteoarthritis and Distal Interphalangeal Involvement in Psoriatic Arthritis: The Place of Conservative Therapy

Hand erosive osteoarthritis (HEOA) and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) with DIP involvement are common diseases affecting the hand. Both of them evolve with a progressive limitation in grip due to limited range of motion of the affected joints and stenosing tenosynovitis. Pharmacological options currently available (corticosteroids and clodronate or Idrossicloroquine) for the treatment of EHOA are mostly symptomatic and currently there are no effective drugs able to modify the course of the disease. In addition, data on drug effectiveness of PsA with DIP involvement are lacking. Conservative therapy should be considered in order to reduce pain and improve hand functionality. There are many studies debating a wide range of non-pharmacological intervention in the management of HEOA: joint protection program, range of motion and strengthening exercise, hand exercise with electromagnetic therapy, application of heat with paraffin wax or balneotherapy, occupational therapy and education. Concerning conservative treatment strategies to treat PsA, on the contrary, current evidence is still weak. Further research is needed to find the correct place of physical therapy to prevent stiffness and ankylosis due to the vicious circle of inflammation-pain-immobility-rigidity.

The High Clinical Burden of Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis is Associated with Clinical Findings, Pain, and Radiographic Severity

Varying reports exist on the clinical impact of erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) in terms of pain and articular function. Few studies have assessed the association of a patient's clinical features with the presence of more severe radiographic disease. The aim was to evaluate clinical and radiographic characteristics in EHOA comparing with non-erosive (NEHOA); to examine pain and functional impairment between EHOA and NEHOA; and correlate functional impairment with clinical findings, pain, and radiographic severity.

METHODS

62 patients with EHOA and 57 with NEHO were included. Pain was assessed through Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Australian/Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) pain subdomain. Functioning was evaluated with the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) concerning hand function and AUSCAN. Radiographs were scored with the Kallman scale and subchondral erosions with the Verbruggen-Veys method. Student t-tests were used for comparing quantitative data, chi-squared tests for categorical variables, and Pearson or Spearman tests for assessing correlation.

RESULTS

Patients with EHOA reported significantly higher levels of pain on the VAS and AUSCAN (p<0.01). In EHOA, VAS positively correlated with the HAQ and AUSCAN scales (rho=0.68 and 0.77). In NEHOA, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) positively and strongly correlated with HAQ and AUSCAN (rho=0.84 and 0.89). Nodes, Kallman score and erosions showed a positive but weak correlation with HAQ and AUSCAN in both groups.

CONCLUSION

Both EHOA and NEHOA participants had functional impairment, but the erosive subtype had higher clinical burden and increased joint damage. This higher clinical burden is attributed mainly to pain.

Familial Clustering of Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis in a Large Statewide Cohort

OBJECTIVE

Erosive hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a severe and rapidly progressing subset of hand OA. Its etiology remains largely unknown, which has hindered development of successful treatments. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that erosive hand OA demonstrates familial clustering in a large statewide population linked to genealogical records, and to determine the association of potential risk factors with erosive hand OA.

METHODS

Patients diagnosed as having erosive hand OA were identified by searching 4,741,840 unique medical records from a comprehensive statewide database, the Utah Population Database (UPDB). Affected individuals were mapped to pedigrees to identify high-risk families with excess clustering of erosive hand OA as defined by a familial standardized incidence ratio (FSIR) of ≥2.0. The magnitude of familial risk of erosive hand OA in related individuals was calculated using Cox regression models. Association of potential erosive hand OA risk factors was analyzed using multivariate conditional logistic regression and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

We identified 703 affected individuals linked to 240 unrelated high-risk pedigrees with excess clustering of erosive hand OA (FSIR ≥2.0, P < 0.05). The relative risk of developing erosive hand OA was significantly elevated in first-degree relatives (P < 0.001). There were significant associations between a diagnosis of erosive hand OA and age, sex, diabetes, and obesity (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Familial clustering of erosive hand OA observed in a statewide database indicates a potential genetic contribution to the etiology of the disease. Age, sex, diabetes, and obesity are risk factors for erosive hand OA. Identification of causal gene variants in these high-risk families may provide insight into the genes and pathways that contribute to erosive hand OA onset and progression.

An Assessment of Hand Erosive Osteoarthritis: Correlation of Radiographic Severity with Clinical, Functional and Laboratory Findings

INTRODUCTION

The present study aimed (a) to evaluate the clinical and radiographic characteristics of hand erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) in a group of consecutive patients, (b) to correlate the severity of radiographic involvement with clinical and laboratory findings and (c) to associate the levels of pain and functional impairment with some radiographic findings.

METHODS

Patients with EOA were consecutively enrolled. Inclusion criteria required the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for hand osteoarthritis and the presence of at least one joint in "E" or "R" phase according to Verbruggen-Veys. For each patient, demographic and clinical data were collected including evaluation of pain and function with the Australian Canadian Osteoarthritis Hand Index (AUSCAN) scale and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Laboratory parameters and plain radiography of both hands were also collected. Each radiograph was evaluated in accordance with the Verbruggen-Veys classification and scored with the Kallman score.

RESULTS

During the study period 60 patients (M/F 13:47) with EAO were enrolled. More severe radiographic disease ("E" or "R") was often found at II and III distal interphalangeal (IP) joints. In addition, Kallman score, presence of osteophytes, erosions and joint space narrowing correlated significantly with duration of symptoms, AUSCAN, pain and active joints. More severe radiographic involvement was associated with AUSCAN and with the presence of ankylosis only at proximal IP joints.

CONCLUSION

The present study showed that EOA is characterised by a significant correlation between radiographic involvement and some clinical characteristics of the disease. However, an impairment of joint function was mainly associated to radiological proximal IP joint involvement, but not with other symptoms such as pain.

Intramuscular clodronate in erosive osteoarthritis of the hand is effective on pain and reduces serum COMP: a randomized pilot trial-The ER.O.D.E. study (ERosive Osteoarthritis and Disodium-clodronate Evaluation)

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of intramuscular clodronate (CLO) for the treatment of active erosive osteoarthritis of the hand (EOA). Forty outpatients treated with anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) or analgesic drugs since at least 6 months, for at least 3 days a week, were randomly divided into two groups. Group A: 24 patients treated for 6 months with intramuscular (i.m.) CLO added to usual NSAIDs or analgesic drugs. The attack dose was 200 mg/day i.m. for 10 days followed by a maintenance dose of CLO i.m. 200 mg/day for 6 days after 3 and 6 months. Group B: 16 patients who continued the usual treatment with anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs. Patients in both groups reported in a diary, day by day, the consumption of symptomatic drugs. In group A, the consumption of anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs (p < 0.0001), pain (p < 0.0001), number of tender joints (p = 0.0097), number of swollen joints (p = 0.0251), Dreiser score (p = 0.0119), and patient's and physician's global assessment of disease activity significantly decreased (both p < 0.001). At 6 months, serum COMP also significantly decreased (p < 0.0029). Strength of right (p = 0.0465) and left hand (+38%, p = ns) significantly increased. In group B, there was no significant change in all parameters considered. Intramuscular CLO in EOA of the hand is effective and safe on pain with a significant reduction in the consumption of anti-inflammatory or analgesic drugs, increasing the functionality of the hands. Serum COMP reduction suggests that CLO could play a role as a disease-modifying drug (EudraCT number 2013-000832-85).

Radiographic involvement of metacarpophalangeal and radiocarpal joints in hand osteoarthritis

To evaluate, by means of a longitudinal study, radiographic involvement of metacarpophalangeal and radio-carpal joints in hand osteoarthritis, its relationship with erosive disease and its progression, 368 patients with hand osteoarthritis were enrolled. All patients underwent hand X-rays. On the basis of the presence of central erosions in interphalangeal joints, patients were divided into three groups: 0-no central erosions, 1-one joint with central erosion, and 2-two or more joints with central erosions. A longitudinal study on 44 patients and nine normal controls, whose X-rays were available after 3.9 years, was performed. The radiological involvement of metacarpophalangeal and radio-carpal joints was evaluated using Kellgren-Lawrence and OARSI scores. Low number of joints showed Kellgren-Lawrence values ≥2 group 0, 42/1290 (3.3%); group 1, 10/410 (2.4%); and group 2, 36/1980 (1.8%). Low score values were obtained for all radiographic items. Only metacarpophalangeal joint space narrowing score showed significant increase from groups 0 to 2. Subsequent adjustment for age, gender, and BMI did not confirm the statistical significance. Marginal erosions were rarely found (6.7% of joints). Metacarpophalangeal and radio-carpal radiographic per patient scores significantly worsened at follow-up, but no significant increase in joints with Kellgren-Lawrence score ≥2 was found. In normal controls, no significant radiographic worsening was found. Only a minority of metacarpophalangeal joints shows a Kellgren-Lawrence value ≥2. Metacarpophalangeal and to lesser extent radiocarpal joints had significant worsening at follow-up. Metacarpophalangeal joint involvement in hand osteoarthritis is mild but progressive. Radiocarpal involvement is negligible.