Study of the efficacy and safety of diacerhein in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diacerhein in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis.Methods The efficacy and safety of diacerhein was randomly investigated in 42 pa- tients with knee osteoarthritis using parallel group methodology and a double-dummy technique to ensure dou- ble blind status with respect to diacerhein and control drugs diclofenac.Results Significant changes were ob- served in 20 meters walk pain,knee joint tenderness scale,WOMAC index scale,5F-36 health survey,knee joint swelling scale,compared with baseline(P＞0.05)in both diacerhein and diclofenac group respectively.No difference was found between diacerhein group and diclofenae group.The patient global assessment and physi- cian's global assessment were similar in diacerhein group and diclofenac group(P＞0.05).The side effect was similar in two groups.All of these side effects in gastrointestinal tract appeared to be transient.Conclusion Diacerhein can effectively relieve pain and swelling of knee osteoarthritis,and provides us a new effective and safe approach for treating knee osteoarthritis.