Protocol for the MERINO study: A randomized placebo-controlled trial assessing the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of methotrexate in people with erosive hand osteoarthritis.

Objective: Previous studies on the efficacy of methotrexate in people with hand osteoarthritis (OA) have shown conflicting results. The MERINO trial aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of methotrexate in people with painful inflammatory erosive hand OA.

Design: In total 163 participants with erosive hand OA, synovitis by ultrasound, and finger joint pain of 40-80 ​mm on a visual analogue scale (VAS) will be recruited from a rheumatology outpatient clinic.

Associations of pain sensitisation with tender and painful joint counts in people with hand osteoarthritis: results from the Nor-Hand study.

Objective: To examine associations of pain sensitisation with tender and painful joint counts and presence of widespread pain in people with hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) at a painful finger joint and the tibialis anterior muscle, and temporal summation (TS) were measured in 291 persons with hand OA. We examined whether sex-standardised PPT and TS values were associated with assessor-reported tender hand joint count, self-reported painful hand and total body joint counts and presence of widespread pain using linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, education and OA severity.

Study protocol for the follow-up examination of the Nor-Hand study: A hospital-based observational cohort study exploring pain and biomarkers in people with hand osteoarthritis.

Objective: This study aims to increase the understanding of pain mechanisms in hand OA and explore potential risk factors for pain development or worsening in a biopsychosocial framework. Another important aim is to validate potential soluble and imaging OA biomarkers.

Design: The follow-up examination of the Nor-Hand hospital-based observational cohort study started in October 2019 and was completed in May 2021.

Task shifting in the care for patients with hand osteoarthritis. Protocol for a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial.

Background: Current health policy states that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) should mainly be managed in primary health care. Still, research shows that patients with hand OA have poor access to recommended treatment in primary care, and in Norway, they are increasingly referred to rheumatologist consultations in specialist care. In this randomized controlled non-inferiority trial, we will test if a new model, where patients referred to consultation in specialist health care receive their first consultation by an occupational therapy (OT) specialist, is as safe and effective as the traditional model, where they receive their first consultation by a rheumatologist.

Associations between fluorescence optical imaging and magnetic resonance imaging and symptoms in hand osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To investigate whether Fluorescence Optical Imaging (FOI) enhancement and MRI-defined synovitis are associated with pain and physical function in hand OA patients.

Methods: Bilateral FOI scans and MRI of the dominant hand were available for 221 patients. Finger joints were examined for tenderness on palpation.

Associations Between Ultrasound-Detected Synovitis, Pain, and Function in Interphalangeal and Thumb Base Osteoarthritis: Data From the Nor-Hand Cohort.

Objective: To explore whether ultrasound-detected gray-scale synovitis and power Doppler activity in the interphalangeal and first carpometacarpal (CMC1) joints are associated with pain and physical function in patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A total of 290 patients with hand OA underwent an ultrasound examination of the bilateral interphalangeal and CMC1 joints. Using logistic regression analyses with generalized estimating equations, we examined whether grade 0-3 gray-scale synovitis and power Doppler activity were associated with pain in the same joint.

The Maternal and Paternal Effects on Clinically and Surgically Defined Osteoarthritis.

Objective: It is currently unknown whether osteoarthritis (OA) is inherited mainly from the mother, father, or both. This study was undertaken to explore the effect of maternal and paternal factors on hip, knee, and hand OA in offspring.

Methods: Participants from the Musculoskeletal Pain in Ullensaker Study (MUST) (69% female; mean ± SD age 64 ± 9 years) and a Norwegian OA twin study (Nor-Twin) (56% female; 49 ± 11 years) reported whether their mother and/or father had OA.

Exercise for Hand Osteoarthritis: A Cochrane Systematic Review.

Objective: To assess the benefits and harms of exercise compared with other interventions, including placebo or no intervention, in people with hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Systematic review using Cochrane Collaboration methodology. Six electronic databases were searched up until September 2015.

A hospital-based observational cohort study exploring pain and biomarkers in patients with hand osteoarthritis in Norway: The Nor-Hand protocol.

Introduction: We have limited knowledge about the underlying disease mechanisms and causes of pain in hand osteoarthritis (OA). Consequently, no disease-modifying drug exists, and more knowledge about the pathogenesis of hand OA is needed, as well as a validation of different outcome measures. Our first aim of this study is to explore the validity of various imaging modalities for the assessment of hand OA.

Ultrasound-detected osteophytes predict the development of radiographic and clinical features of hand osteoarthritis in the same finger joints 5 years later.

Background: Structural pathology may be present in joints without radiographic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA). Ultrasound is a sensitive tool for early detection of osteophytes. Our aim was to explore whether ultrasound-detected osteophytes (in radiographically and clinically normal finger joints) predicted the development of radiographic and clinical hand OA 5 years later.

Exercise for hand osteoarthritis.

Background: Hand osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent joint disease that may lead to pain, stiffness and problems in performing hand-related activities of daily living. Currently, no cure for OA is known, and non-pharmacological modalities are recommended as first-line care. A positive effect of exercise in hip and knee OA has been documented, but the effect of exercise on hand OA remains uncertain.

The comparison of magnetic resonance imaging and radiographs to assess structural progression over 5 years in hand osteoarthritis.

Objective: . The aim was to explore the agreement between 1.0 T MRI and conventional radiography (CR) to detect progression of hand OA over 5 years and the associations between structural progression and incident joint tenderness.

Ultrasound-detected inflammation predicts radiographic progression in hand osteoarthritis after 5 years.

Objective: To examine whether ultrasound predicts radiographic hand osteoarthritis (OA) progression after 5 years.

Methods: We included 78 participants (71 women, mean (SD) age 67.8 (5.

Increasing synovitis and bone marrow lesions are associated with incident joint tenderness in hand osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To explore whether changes of MRI-defined synovitis and bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are related to changes in joint tenderness in a 5-year longitudinal study of the Oslo hand osteoarthritis (OA) cohort.

Methods: We included 70 patients (63 women, mean (SD) age 67.9 (5.

MRI findings predict radiographic progression and development of erosions in hand osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To examine whether MRI features predict radiographic progression including erosive evolution in patients from the Oslo hand osteoarthritis (OA) cohort, which is the first longitudinal hand OA study with available MRI.

Methods: We included 74 patients (91% female, mean (SD) age of 67.9 (5.

Effects of a soft prefabricated thumb orthosis in carpometacarpal osteoarthritis.

Aims: To explore the feasibility and assess the effect of a prefabricated soft thumb-base orthosis on pain, hand strength, and activity performance in persons with osteoarthritis of the CMC joint.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 29 patients received hand exercises only (control group) and 30 patients received hand exercises and an orthosis (orthosis group). The primary outcome was pain, while secondary outcomes included grip and pinch strength, and self-reported symptoms and activity performance.

Hand, hip and knee osteoarthritis in a Norwegian population-based study--the MUST protocol.

Background: Knowledge about the prevalence and consequences of osteoarthritis (OA) in the Norwegian population is limited. This study has been designed to gain a greater understanding of musculoskeletal pain in the general population with a focus on clinically and radiologically confirmed OA, as well as risk factors, consequences, and management of OA.

Methods/design: The Musculoskeletal pain in Ullensaker STudy (MUST) has been designed as an observational study comprising a population-based postal survey and a comprehensive clinical examination of a sub-sample with self-reported OA (MUST OA cohort).

Ultrasonographic assessment of osteophytes in 127 patients with hand osteoarthritis: exploring reliability and associations with MRI, radiographs and clinical joint findings.

Objective: To investigate the reliability of ultrasonographic assessment of osteophytes and explore the concordance of osteophytes detected by ultrasound, MRI, conventional radiography (CR) and clinical joint examination in patients with hand osteoarthritis (HOA).

Methods: The study included 127 HOA patients (116 women, mean age 68.6 years (SD 5.

Associations between MRI-defined synovitis, bone marrow lesions and structural features and measures of pain and physical function in hand osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To explore associations between MRI features and measures of pain and physical function in hand osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: Eighty-five patients (77 women) with mean (SD) age of 68.8 (5.

Comparison of features by MRI and radiographs of the interphalangeal finger joints in patients with hand osteoarthritis.

Objectives: To examine the construct validity of MRI in the detection of structural hand osteoarthritis features with conventional radiography (CR) as reference and explore the association between radiographic severity and MRI-defined pathology.

Methods: 106 hand osteoarthritis patients (97 women, mean age 68.9 years (SD 5.

Systematic review of design and effects of splints and exercise programs in hand osteoarthritis.

Objective: To describe and evaluate the design and effects of splints and exercise programs in hand osteoarthritis.

Methods: Controlled trials identified through systematic literature reviews were included. Design of splints and exercise programs were evaluated according to existing recommendations and classification systems.

Hand osteoarthritis and MRI: development and first validation step of the proposed Oslo Hand Osteoarthritis MRI score.

Objectives: MRI scoring systems for hand osteoarthritis (HOA) are currently not available. The present work proposes the Oslo HOA MRI (OHOA-MRI) score and examines the intrareader and inter-reader reliability.

Methods: Relevant HOA features were included in the initial version of the OHOA-MRI score after literature review and informal group discussions.

The AUSCAN subscales, AIMS-2 hand/finger subscale, and FIOHA were not unidimensional scales.

Objectives: Evaluate the internal construct validity of the Australian/Canadian (AUSCAN) index for hand osteoarthritis (HOA) and identify the physical function instrument with best performance.

Study Design And Setting: AUSCAN, AIMS-2 (Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2), and Functional Index of HOA (FIHOA) were self-completed by 209 HOA patients (mean [standard deviation] age 61.6 [5.