Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41487658›Full record

ReviewDrugs in context2025

Apremilast in osteoarthritis: exploring its therapeutic mechanisms.

Farzad Rafiei, Saina Sadeghipour, Seyed Mohammad Hosseini Marvast, Ali Mandegary, Hamidreza Soltani

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Drugs in context, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Farzad RafieiStudent Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Saina SadeghipourStudent Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Seyed Mohammad Hosseini MarvastStudent Research Committee, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Ali MandegaryTraditional Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, and Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Hamidreza SoltaniDepartment of Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is increasingly understood as a complex, inflammatory disease rather than a purely mechanical disorder. Apremilast, a selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor approved for psoriatic arthritis, is amongst several new treatment alternatives that target one of the most important inflammatory pathways involved in OA. Apremilast decreases pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF, IL-1 and IL-6, which are central to cartilage degradation and synovial inflammation. This review explores the mechanistic rationale and available evidence supporting the repurposing of apremilast in OA. We highlight its potential to reduce pain and slow structural progression. Although the data are currently scarce, there remains a strong rationale for its repurposing for the treatment of OA based on its safety profile, oral route of administration and positive treatment adherence. Nevertheless, clinical investigation remains limited. Further research is needed to clarify its therapeutic potential and identify patient populations most likely to benefit.

Indexed as

apremilastinflammationosteoarthritispaintreatment

Identifiers

PMID41487658
PMCPMC12758800

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.