Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: N/A
Brief Summary: Osteoarthritis (OA), a common disabling condition, is the commonest type of arthritis worldwide.Pain is the leading symptom and is often chronic in na. Current treatment options have had limited symptomatic effect and are associated with significant side effects. Duloxetine, a selective serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor has been demonstrated to have, besides its antidepressant properties, a centrally acting analgesic effect.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of duloxetine in reducing pain in older adults with knee OA.

288 patients aged 65 years and above with ACR clinical and radiographic criteria of primary knee OA attending the outpatient clinic of our institution were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent a physical examination and where questioned about the number of flares. Exclusion criteria included any inflammatory, autoimmune, psychiatric illness and morbid obesity. Patients were randomized 1:1. One hundred and forty four received 60mg/day of duloxetine HCL and 144 received placebo together with their usual therapy for 16 weeks. The primary outcome measure was pain reduction. Secondary outcome measures included improvements in physical functioning scores. Pain was assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) and Visual Analogue pain Scale, (VAS, 0-100 mm). Functional assessment using the self-reported physical function as measured with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), WOMAC pain and stiffness scores and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was conducted. Alterations in dosage of analgesic/NSAID drugs used were recorded. Safety and tolerability were also assessed. Data was collected at baseline and at monthly intervals for 4 months. All staff involved in data collection was blinded to the treatment assignment groups.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with diagnosis of chronic wide-spread pain for at least 3 months, who fulfill the 1990 ACR Criteria for FM.
2. Patients with mean pain ratings ≥ 4.0 VAS units, at Screening and Baseline visits.
3. Patients, who are able to comprehend and satisfactorily comply with protocol requirements.
4. Patients who have not taken any pain medications except acetaminophen within 3 days prior to the Baseline Visit (these medications if taken prior to the Screening Visit must be discontinued at Screening Visit and the Baseline Visit may be scheduled at least 7 days past the last dose of these medications).
5. All women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative urine pregnancy test at the Screening Visit. All women of childbearing potential participating in the study must use a medically acceptable form of contraception

Exclusion Criteria:

1. FM patients unwilling or unable to discontinue analgesics (except Tylenol) for at least 5 drug half-lives prior to enrollment.
2. Patient has previously failed treatment with Milnacipran for FM pain.
3. Patients who have been treated with MAO inhibitors within 30 days prior to the Baseline Visit.
4. Patients who received ECT within 3 months prior to the Screening Visit.
5. Women who are pregnant or nursing, or women of childbearing potential who do not use adequate contraception, or who are judged to be unreliable in their use of contraception.
6. Patients who have participated in any clinical trial within one month prior to the Screening Visit.
7. Patients who have a medical condition that, in the Investigator's opinion, would expose them to an increased risk of a significant adverse event or interfere with assessments of safety and efficacy during the course of the trial.
8. Patients with severe renal insufficiency (Creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/min)
9. Patient has a BDI score \>29
10. Patients with any current malignancy, or any clinically significant hematological, endocrine, cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, gastrointestinal or neurological disease (including any form of epilepsy). If there is a history of such disease but the condition has been stable for at least the past year and is judged by the investigator not to interfere with the patient's participation in the study, the patient may be included.
11. Patients with systolic blood pressure greater than 180 mm Hg or less than 90 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure greater than 105 mm Hg or less than 50 mm Hg at the Screening visit. Similarly, tachycardia of \>110/min is exclusionary.
12. Patients who require concomitant therapy with any prohibited prescription or over-the-counter medication, including aspirin (except 81 mg for heart disease) or antidepressant medications.
13. Patients who are unable to speak, read, and understand English or are judged by the investigator to be unable or unlikely to follow the study protocol and complete all scheduled visits.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Provide written informed consent and abide by the study restrictions.
2. Males and females between 40 and 75 years of age and body weight \>40 kg and \<150 kg with a body mass index (BMI) between 20-35 kg/m2 inclusive
3. Patients with osteoarthritic knee based on disease diagnostic criteria as presented in section; Inclusion Disease Criteria.
4. Self-reported pain intensities higher or equal to 5 cm on a 0-10 cm visual analog scale when asked to assess the worst pain within the last 24 hours
5. Have agreed to maintain the same activity level throughout the course of the study.
6. Knee pain for at least 14 days per month for the last three months before study entry.
7. Osteophytes (with radiographic evidence).
8. At least 1 of the following 3 conditions: Age \>50, or morning stiffness \<30 minutes, or crepitus.
9. Kellgren and Lawrence grade of I, II or III at the index knee. If the patient has had X-rays of the knee joints within the last year, which can confirm the diagnosis, they may be used. Otherwise, a new posterior-anterior view X-ray of both knees will be conducted by CCBR Aalborg.
10. Worst pain within the last 24-hour must be 5.0cm to 10.0cm (assessed on a 0-10 cm VAS scale anchored at 0cm: no pain and 10cm: worst pain imaginable) prior to enrolment.
11. Discontinued use of all analgesic medications (including over-the-counter \[OTC\] analgesics/ Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) at least three days prior to randomization (patients are allowed limited use of analgesic medications).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have a history of recurrent seizures other than febrile seizures.
2. Have a history of frequent and/or severe allergic reactions with multiple medications.
3. Patients with a current or recent history, as determined by the PI or his delegates, of severe, progressive, and/or uncontrolled renal, hepatic, hematological, gastrointestinal, endocrine, pulmonary, cardiac, neurological, psychiatric or cerebral disease which could interfere with the patient's participation in the study.
4. Moderate or great hepatic impairment. Retest of abnormal lab values is allowed once. If still abnormal, the patient will be excluded.
5. An alanine aminotransaminase (ALAT) higher than the Upper Limit of Normal (ULN) or explain by obesity
6. Have prior renal transplant, current renal dialysis or severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance of \<30 mL/min), or serum creatinine laboratory value \>1.5 times ULN, based on the reference ranges of the central laboratory.
7. Have uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure over 160 and diastolic blood pressure over 100)
8. Have active peptic ulcer, gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding or previous unexplained bleeding episodes
9. Have known inflammatory intestinal disease or gastrointestinal disease which might impact absorption
10. Patients with congestive heart failure (NYHA II-IV)
11. Bazett's corrected QT (QTcB) interval \> 450 msec for men and \> 470 msec for women
12. Patients with diabetes mellitus and documented atherosclerosis
13. Patients allergic to the active ingredient of duloxetine or one or more of the excipients
14. Pregnancy and breast feeding
15. Non-postmenopausal (defined as the absence of menstruation for at least 12 months and confirmed by assessing the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level) and non-sterile females patients not using fertility control such as either birth control pills, hormonal or copper intrauterine device (IUD), vaginal ring, implant, transdermal release patch, or birth control depot injections
16. Patients with an active malignancy of any type or a history of malignancy within the last five years (except basal cell carcinoma of the skin that has been excised prior to study start)
17. Are taking any excluded medications (analgesic medications) that cannot be discontinued during the study period.
18. Patients in treatment with anticoagulants (with the exception of acetylsalicylic acid)
19. In treatment with a CYP1A2 inhibitors.
20. Have received treatment within the last 30 days with a drug that has not received regulatory approval for any indication at Visit 1.
21. Have a history of substance abuse or dependence within the past year, excluding nicotine and caffeine
22. Patients at a high risk of infection (e.g. leg ulcers, indwelling urinary catheter and persistent or recurrent chest infections and patients who are permanently bed ridden or wheelchair bound)
23. Patients with a history of, or suspected, demyelinating disease of the central nervous system (e.g. multiple sclerosis or optic neuritis).
24. The investigator experiences that the volunteers do not fully understand the experimental pain procedures.
25. Investigator site personnel directly affiliated with this study and/or their immediate family. Immediate family is defined as a spouse, parent, child, or sibling, whether biological or legally adopted.
26. Patients on monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), dopamine-antagonists, tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI)s or SNRIs, as well as use of the supplement St. John's Wort
27. Psychiatric diagnosis or symptoms (e.g. depression or anxiety) that in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with study procedures or participation evaluated using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.).
28. Has answered "yes" in the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) to suicidal ideation items 4 or 5, or any suicidal behaviour within six months before screening, at screening or at randomization visit, or has been hospitalized or treated for suicidal behaviour in the past five years before screening.
29. Patients are not allowed to donate blood or blood products during the study
30. Have secondary causes of arthritis of the knee including septic arthritis, inflammatory joint disease, articular fracture, major dysplasia or congenital abnormality, acromegaly, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, and primary osteochondromatosis.
31. Have had lower extremity surgery (including arthroscopy of the index knee) within 3 months prior to Visit 1 or have surgery planned of the index knee at any time.
32. Have had significant prior injury to the index knee within 12 months prior to Visit 1.
33. Use of lower extremity assistive devices other than a cane or knee brace (use of a 'shoe lift' is permitted). Are non-ambulatory or require the use of crutches or a walker. Use of a cane in the hand opposite the index knee is acceptable.
34. Has had a prior synovial fluid analysis showing a White Blood Cell (WBC) ≥2000mm3 that is indicative of a diagnosis other than OA at the index knee.
35. Have a confounding painful condition that may interfere with assessment of the index knee. (Knee pain should be the predominant pain. Mild OA of the hands is allowed, for instance).
36. Have any other musculoskeletal or arthritic condition that may affect the interpretation of the clinical efficacy and/or safety data or otherwise contraindicates participation in this clinical study (i.e., currently symptomatic fractures or any concurrent rheumatic diseases such as but not limited to fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, pseudo-gout or Paget's disease and Reiter's syndrome are excluded).
37. Have used corticosteroids prior to baseline:

    1. Intra-articular injection of steroids to the index knee or into any other site than the index knee within the previous three months.
    2. Intra-muscular corticosteroid injections within the previous three months.
    3. Oral corticosteroids within the previous one month.
38. Have initiated or have changed to an established physiotherapy program within two weeks prior to Visit 2 or during the study period. An established physiotherapy program may be continued throughout the study period if unchanged in frequency and intensity.
C: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Diagnosis of cancer

  * CNS malignancy allowed with the exception of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis
* Must have painful sensory chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) resulting from prior treatment with single-agent taxane or platinum agents (paclitaxel, docetaxel, nab-paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, cisplatin) (may not have received drugs from both classes)

  * CIPN \> grade 1 as measured by NCI-CTCAE v 4.0
  * Average neuropathic pain score ≥ 4
* Patients with the following illnesses known to cause peripheral neuropathy are eligible, provided they have no evidence of neuropathy from these illnesses:

  * Diabetes mellitus
  * Peripheral vascular disease
  * HIV infection
  * Significant degenerative or familial neurologic disorder known to cause peripheral neuropathy
* No clinical or subclinical neuropathy from nerve compression injuries (i.e., carpal tunnel syndrome, brachial plexopathy, spinal stenosis, or spinal nerve root compression)

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

* AST ≤ 3 times upper limit of normal
* Total bilirubin ≤ normal
* Creatinine clearance \> 30 mL/min
* Not pregnant or nursing
* Able to take oral or enteral medication
* No history of seizure disorder
* No diagnosis of ethanol addiction or dependence within the past 10 years
* No history of narrow-angle glaucoma
* None of the following:

  * History of suicidal thoughts
  * Symptoms of or history of schizophrenia, bipolar disease, or a major depression
  * Serious eating disorder such as bulimia or anorexia where electrolyte imbalance is likely

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

* At least 3 months since prior and no concurrent taxane or platinum agent
* At least 14 days since prior and no concurrent monoamine oxidase inhibitors or other antidepressants
* No other prior or concurrent neurotoxic drugs (e.g., vincristine, vinblastine, cytarabine, thalidomide, bortezomib, carboplatin, or procarbazine)
* No concurrent anticonvulsants
* No concurrent B or E vitamin supplementation in doses greater than the recommended daily allowance (RDA)

  * Centrum (standard formula) and One-A-Day "essential" formula which contain 100% RDA for vitamins B6, E, and B12 allowed
  * Other multivitamins allowed provided they contain no more than 100% RDA of B vitamins and vitamin E
* No concurrent treatment (pharmacologic) for depression
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* primary knee osteoarthritis

Exclusion Criteria:

* inflammatory conditions
* autoimmune disorders
* psychiatric illness
* morbid obesity

Answer: D