Fast Improvements of Acute Inflammatory Symptomatology in Patients With Hand Osteoarthritis With the Use of Doxycycline.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) presents the high activity of free radicals and proteolytic enzymes which were inhibited by Doxycycline (DOX). Objective: To search the efficacy, safety, and fastness for the improvement of inflammatory signs in patients with Hand Osteoarthritis (HOA). Method: ology: Randomized, placebo-controlled trial during four weeks with two groups of patients: DOX group using one tablet of 100 mg bid per os; control group using paracetamol bid per os ; the data were obtained through Visual Analog Scale (VAS) evaluation for pain, flushing/edema by the patient and the examiner; the primary outcome was the improvement greater than 50% from the basal values after four weeks . Results: : Thirty-eight female patients with HOA after menopause were allocated: 20 in the DOX group and 18 in the control group. The results showed that the DOX group presented a significant improvement in 75% of patients compared to the control group (p <0.00000), which started after 6.05 ± 3.7 days of treatment; and mild adverse effects in 20% of the sample - gastric pain, nausea, vomiting after 9.0 ± 5.2 days without any removal from the trial. Compared to the baseline and the control group results, was observed a significant improvement in pain (p <0.00000) and edema/flushing (p<0.00000) demonstrated the efficacy of inflammation; no abnormality was seen on the blood analysis, and no hematological, renal, cardiologic and hepatic commitment. Conclusion: Doxycycline by a short length of time was safe and improved the pain and inflammatory signs of HOA.