Prednisolone effective short-term for hand OA pain
'The largest effect-size yet seen for hand osteoarthritis'
21st November 2019
By Clare Pain
Taking 10mg of prednisolone daily for six weeks produces a significant reduction in the pain of hand osteoarthritis, Dutch research shows.
The results of the randomised double-blinded trial show the largest effect-size of any treatment for hand osteoarthritis to date and may herald a turning point in treatment of the condition, the researchers write in the Lancet.
In the trial, 92 people (mean age 64, 79% female) attending two rheumatology outpatient clinics, were randomly allocated to either six weeks of prednisolone 10mg day or placebo followed