Treating osteoarthrosis in terms of the safety of pharmacotherapy

Abstract

It is shown that of great importance in osteoarthrosis (OA) is the use of hyaluronic acid preparations and oral chondroprotectors that produce not only symptomatic, but also structurally modifying effects. Combined therapy using these agents makes it possible to enhance the efficiency of the therapy for OA and to reduce a risk of drug-induced complications due to the decreased requirements for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The data showing the benefits of a low molecular-weight hyaluronic acid preparation (Hyalgan®) and an agent based on the unsaponifiable compounds of avocado and soybean (Piascledine®) and evidence for their efficacy and safety are given.