Modern aspects of treatment and monitoring of hand osteoarthritis

Dubkova A.G. , Krylova A.S., Tsymbaliuk T.S.

• National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education named after P.L. Shupik, Kyiv

Summary. Abstract. Objectives. Hand Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common localizations after knee OA. Hand OA is accompanied by pain, difficulty in squeezing the hand, which leads to dysfunction of the hand — the inability to perform normal, daily activities — and impairs the quality of patient’s life. Aim. The aim of this article was to review the literature and highlight current aspects of treatment and monitoring of hand OA. Methods. The scientific search in printed and electronic editions, scientific search databases Medline and PubMed using methods of analysis, comparison and generalization of information data is carried out. Relevant articles on the monitoring and treatment of OA of the wrist joints have been identified and reviewed. Results. The article presents the classification of hand OA, data on the prevalence of this disease. Classification criteria, scales for assessing the function of hand joints are given. The authors of the review studied the current recommendations of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) for the diagnosis and treatment of hand OA. The article discusses the issues of therapy of hand OA, in particular the possibility of using chondroitin sulfate, its mechanism of action and its pleiotropic effects. New data on the appointment of biological therapy and new directions of treatment of hand OA are analyzed. Conclusions. Hand OA is an urgent problem of modern rheumatology, which still has many issues and areas that need further study. The use of chondroitin sulfate in patients with hand OA contributes to a significant reduction in the severity of pain, slowing progression, improving the functional state of the joints and the comorbid diseases, due to its pleiotropic effects. New variants of targeted therapy are presented, based on a clearer understanding of the pathogenesis of OA, which improve the course of the disease in animal models. Further evaluation of these treatments in patients with the hand OA is required.