Osteoarthritis is a common joint disease, and there is still no treatment that can stop or slow its progression. This thesis explored how existing and new medicines could improve osteoarthritis treatment. We found that a single methylprednisolone injection reduced hand pain and improved hand function for roughly 12 weeks. Both patients and healthcare professionals considered this treatment acceptable. We also identified patient characteristics that may help predict who is most likely to benefit. In addition, our findings suggest that allopurinol, a medicine commonly used to treat gout, may reduce the risk of developing knee or hip osteoarthritis, particularly with long-term use. A review of previous studies showed that existing medicines may offer new opportunities for osteoarthritis treatment. Finally, a treatment targeting the gut microbiome appeared to be safe, although clear improvements in symptoms were not observed. Together, these findings may help develop better and more personalized treatments for osteoarthritis.
Merel Hartog (1995) obtained her master's degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Groningen in 2021, neurosciences track. In 2022 she started her PhD at the Sint Maartenskliniek, focusing on new osteoarthritis treatments, supervised by dr. Els van den Ende, prof. dr. Bart van den Bemt and dr. Calin Popa. She currently works as policy advisor at Qualicura.