Local NSAID gel (eltenac) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. A double blind study comparing eltenac with oral diclofenac and placebo gel.

In a randomized, double blind, multicentre study with 4 weeks follow-up of 290 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint, a topical NSAID (eltenac) was compared with oral diclofenac and placebo. The main outcome, Lequesne's Index and pain by VAS showed no statistically significant differences between neither of the active treatments and placebo for the total study population. However, in patients with more severe symptoms, both active groups showed statistically significant differences to placebo. No severe adverse drug reactions were seen but the number of GI reactions were three times higher in the diclofenac group compared to the topical treatment. Local skin reactions were twice as frequent in the eltenac than in the placebo group. Taking into account the nature of the treatment for a chronic disease like OA, our results indicate that eltenac gel could be a safe alternative to oral NSAIDs.

Effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate on chondromalacia patellae. A placebo-controlled 1-year study.

The effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS) on damaged patellar cartilage and clinical symptoms of chondromalacia was studied on 31 patients in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by arthroscopy. The treatment consisted of 12 intramuscular injections of either GAGPS or placebo, and the patients were followed for 1 year. In 26 patients, rearthroscopy was performed at the 1-year follow-up. Comparison of the two arthroscopies showed improvement in 8/13 patients in the GAGPS group compared with 3/13 in the placebo group. The clinical parameters correlated well with the results of the arthroscopies. The results support the use of GAGPS for chondromalacia patellae.

Mucopolysaccharide polysulphate cream in the prevention of pressure sores--a double blind study.

Early pressure areas in 38 cases (33 patients) were randomly treated twice daily with topical applications of either mucopolysaccharide polysulphate (MPS) or the cream base. The patients were assessed weekly for 4 weeks, the main parameter being change in the area of the pressure area. In the MPS group a significant reduction in size was obtained during the 2nd week of treatment, while in the control group a significant reduction was not obtained until week 4. At the end of the treatment, 59% (10/17) of the MPS group were fully healed compared with 21% (4/19) of the control group, the difference being statistically significant, p less than 0.05. MPS resembles heparin chemically, and the results could be attributed to an improvement in the microcirculation and nutrition of the perivascular tissue through an inhibition of microthrombi and perivascular fibrin deposition.