Management of Osteoarthritis Pain

Dear Colleagues, 

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder with more than 500 million people (7% of the global population) being affected by the disease worldwide. The global prevalence of OA is growing, having more than doubled in the past three decades.

Pain is the predominant symptom of OA and is what usually leads those with OA to seek medical care. The pain in OA is typically exacerbated by joint use and relieved by rest. In the early stages of disease, symptoms including pain are often intermittent, becoming more frequent and severe as the disease progresses. However, there is a poor correlation between the OA-related radiographic changes that are seen on plain X-ray and the symptoms of pain experienced by those with OA.

OA pain is a leading cause of disability in older adults and is one of the leading causes of mobility impairment in the elderly population. It also accounts for substantial direct healthcare costs related to the requirement for joint replacement surgery in those with end-stage disease.

Despite its considerable personal, economic, and societal toll, osteoarthritis is generally neglected. Patients with OA report that their concerns and discomfort are downplayed by health practitioners as just a normal part of the aging process. 

The discovery and development of novel treatments for osteoarthritis have not made comparable progress with those of many other musculoskeletal and chronic non-communicable diseases. Therefore, to date, there are no drugs available for the definitive treatment of OA. Most therapies are palliative in nature, alleviating symptoms rather than modifying or curing the underlying disease.

Recent OA research has improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of the disease. Specifically, the identification of the TGF-β and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways has provided hope for the discovery of a disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug. In recent years, several novel agents have emerged as potential treatment alternatives to improve pain, stiffness, and function with the possibility of altering the disease progression.

This Special Issue will focus on the current and future management of OA pain. The factors dictating the onset and progression of the disease will be reviewed, as will the current clinically approved methods for its treatment and diagnosis. We will also present research that elaborates on the current challenges and opportunities for the development and application of novel potentially disease-modifying medicines for the treatment of OA pain.

Dr. Leslie A. Tive
Guest Editor

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• osteoarthritis pain
• inflammation
• symptoms
• pathogenesis
• articular cartilage
• subchondral bone
• diagnosis
• approved treatments
• future treatments
• regenerative therapy
• mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
• IL-1 receptor antagonists
• MMP-13 inhibition
• TGF-β
• Wnt/β-catenin signaling
• ADAMTS-5 inhibition