Clinica Efficacy and Safety of Hyruan (Sodium Hyaluronate) in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee / 대한류마티스학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of Hyruan(sodium hyaluronate) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. METHODS: A 12-week open study of Hyruan was conducted in 48 patients with osteoarthritis(OA) of the knee. Hyruan was injected into knee joints weekly for 5 weeks. Clinical evaluations were performed using visual analog scale(VAS) for pain, Lequesne's index, tenderness and swollen joint counts weekly for the first 5 weeks and then monthly up to 3 months post-injection. RESULTS: Significant improvements in VAS, Lequesne's index, tenderness and swollen joint counts were noted from the first week and maintained until the end of 3 month follow-up period. At 3 months post-injection, 68.8% of patients had >20mm reduction in the VAS. The patients with Kellgren stage lIl showed significant response in VAS and Lequesne's index as patients with Kellgren stage I and II. The clinical improvement after treatment was slower in patients(n=16) with late(>5 years) OA than in patients(n=32) with early(<5 years) OA, but it was statistically significant in either groups, compared to baseline. There were no severe adverse reactions to Hyruan therapy and laboratory examinations revealed no evidence of toxicity. CONCLUSION: Hyruan has been shown to be effective and safe in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.