ABSTRACT
in 3 mL on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a multicenter prospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 79 outpatients (predominantly females 81.0%) from 5 RF constituent territories with primary tibiofemoral KellgrenLawrence score grade II or III knee OA, 40 mm pain intensity during walking on visual analogue scale (VAS), requiring NSAIDs intake (for at least 30 days during 3 months prior to enrollment) were included into the study after signing the informed consent form. Mean age was 60.38.7 years, mean BMI 29.24.7 kg/m2, disease duration 6 (310) years. Grade II OA was documented in 68.4% of patients, Grade III in 31.6%. The study lasted for 6 months. Efficacy and safety evaluations were made based on VAS pain assessment, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) [WOMAC pain (0500), WOMAC function (01700), WOMAC stiffness (0200)], VAS patients health status, EQ-5D-based assessment of patients quality of life, global physicians and patients efficacy assessment, and daily NSAIDs requirements. RESULTS: Obtained results demonstrate statistically significant VAS pain reduction during walking already in 1 week after intra-articular injection of the combination [respectively, 62 (5572) and 41 (3251) mm, Ñ0.0001]. Moreover, pain continued to subside during all 3 months of follow up [in 1 month 28 (2042), in 3 month 22 (1437) mm]. A significant pan reduction achieved at Mo 3 persisted until Mo 6 20 (1442) mm, without documented pain increase. Similar trends were observed with total WOMAC score [1125 (8991540) at baseline, and 552 (309837) mm by the end of the study, p0.0001], and all WOMAC sub-scores [268 (189312) baseline WOMAC pain, 91 (48171) mm by the end of the study p0.0001; stiffness 101 (59130) and 40 (2061) mm, p0.0001; function 802 (6471095) and 402 (191638) mm, p0.0001, respectively]. Median time to the onset of therapeutic effect was 7 (518) days. Statistically significant improvement of patients quality of life by EQ-5D and general health status was observed during all follow up period [respectively, 0.52 (-0.020.59) and 0.69 (0.590.80), Ñ0.0001; 48 (3060) and 72 (6080) mm, Ñ0.0001]. One injection of the drug resulted in dose reduction or discontinuation of NSAIDs therapy: at baseline 76 patients (96.2%) were taking NSAIDs, in one week 31 (39.2%) patients discontinued NSAIDs, in 1 month 72.2%, in 3 months 73.4%, and by the end of the study at Mo 6 54.4% were not taking NSAIDs. These data were consistent with physicians and patients global assessment of the efficacy of treatment, who stated significant improvement and improvement in the majority of cases, with only few no effect or worsening cases documented in analyzed population. Adverse events, such as worsening of pain and/or swelling of the joint, were documented in 8 patients (10.1%); they resolved spontaneously or following NSAIDs intake. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid plus chondroitin sulfate in patients with knee OA are efficient and safe. A single injection of the drug resulted in statistically significant reduction of pain and stiffness, reduction in NSAIDs intake, as well as improvement in patients quality of life and function.
Subject(s)
Hyaluronic Acid , Osteoarthritis, Knee , Chondroitin Sulfates , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Quality of Life , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
AIM: To study the clinical efficacy and safety of the combined medication ARTRA MSM FORTE (400 mg chondroitin sulfate, 500 mg glucosamine hydrochloride, 300 mg methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and 10 mg sodium hyaluronate calculated with reference to hyaluronic acid) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 100 patients with Kellgren-Lawrence grades 2-3 knee OA with obvious pain syndrome (pain intensity scores on a visual analog scale (VAS)) equal or greater than 40 mm during walking. The patients were examined monthly; changes in WOMAC index scores, Get-Up and Go test results, the efficiency of therapy in the opinion of a physician and a patient, and quality of life according to the EQ-5D questionnaire were estimated. They were randomized into 2 groups: 1) 50 patients took ARTRA MSM as 2 tablets daily for one month, then 1 tablet daily; 2) 50 received ARTRA in accordance with the same scheme. Clinical examination was performed before and at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days of the study. RESULTS: All the 100 patients completed treatment. Analysis of the results showed a significant decrease in pain on VAS in both groups. Reduced pain intensity was observed by the end of the first month of therapy and remained throughout the follow-up. Both medications diminished stiffness just after a month of therapy. They alleviated joint function and reduced total WOMAC scores at Visit 2. Analysis of Get-Up and Go test results indicated significantly less spent time in both groups; however, these differences reached the statistical significance in the ARTRA MSM group just at Visit 2 and in the ARTRA group only at Visit 3. The effect ARTRA MSM occurred more rapidly. This was confirmed by the patient and physician evaluations of the efficiency of treatment, which indicated that its positive effect occurred more rapidly in the ARTRA MSM group (p=0.02). Estimation of EQ-5D scores also showed positive results: there was a significant improvement of these indicators in the two compared groups at Visit 3. Both medications were very well tolerated and caused no adverse reactions; therapy was not discontinued. CONCLUSION: ARTRA MSM is rapider in its effect: a significant improvement in Get-Up and Go test results and patient and physician evaluations of the efficiency of treatment. Additional interviews of the patients taking ARTRA MSM demonstrated that 36 (72%) of them reported a prompter pain relief than the ARTRA-treated patients. ARTRA MSM may be recommended for the treatment of OA in clinical practice.
