OSTEOARTHROSIS: NEW POSSIBILITIES FOR DELAYED-ACTING SYMPTOM-MODIFYING THERAPY

Abstract

Objective: to study the efficacy, tolerability, and safety of Artradol in patients with knee osteoarthrosis.Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 35 patients of both sexes, mean age 63,45 ± 6,9 years, with stages II and III gonarthrosisand walking pain intensity > 40 mm visual analog scale. All the patients were given Artradol (chondroitin sulfate) intramuscularly every other day in a dose of 0,1 g (the first 3 injections), its fourth injection was 0,2 g used for 2 months. Changes in the WOMAC index, up-and-go test, as well as the need to use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and therapeutic efficiency as viewed by the physician and patient were estimated.Results. The clinical effect of the drug occurred by the average treatment day of 18. Lower needs for NSAIDs were noted in 97 % of the patients;NSAIDs were discontinued in 22 (62 %) cases. There was a statistically significant decrease in the total scores of the WOMAC and up-to-go tests on therapy completion. The therapy resulted in considerable improvement in 97,0 % of the patients.Conclusion. Artradol has high clinical efficacy and safety and a noticeable delayed-acting symptom-modifying effect, which makes it relevant for use in the treatment of gonarthrosis.

Keywords

• osteoarthrosis
• gonarthrosis
• delayed-acting symptom-modifying effect
• chondroitin sulfate
• Artradol