Professional paper
Analgesic effect of oral hyaluronic acid in patients with osteoarthritis - pilot study
Tomislav Nemčić
orcid.org/0000-0002-7987-8830
; University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Valentina Matijević-Mikelić
; University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Frane Grubišić
; University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Velimir Šušak
; University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Hana Skala-Kavanagh
; University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Simeon Grazio
; University Department for Rheumatology, Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital “Sisters of Mercy”, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent rheumatic disease that belongs in group of the chronic degenerative disorders. Alteration of the hyaline articular cartilage appears to be fundamental to the initiation and progression of the OA. Among the first signs of cartilage injury and early OA are the decrease in superficial proteoglycan concentration including hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a linear polysaccharide with high-molecular weight that is an important component of the extracellular matrix of all joint tissues. It maintains viscoelasticity of the synovial fluid, lubricates and reduces friction between joint surfaces and smoothes movement of the joint. As a medicine, HA belongs to group of symptomatic slow-acting drugs for OA and is mostly administrated intraarticulary. It has many effects including restoration of viscoelasticity, stimulation of HA synthesis, anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effect. In this study we analyzed analgesic effect of oral hyaluronic acid on the sample of 21 patients with clinically and radiologically verified knee and/or hip OA. Duration of the treatment was 5.76 ± 1.95 months and the pain intensity was assessed by visual analog scale (VAS). Before treatment mean score on the pain VAS was 6.71 ± 2.08 centimeters and at the end of treatment it was reduced at 5.38 ± 1.40 centimeters (t=3.63, df=20, p=0,002) that was statistically important change. The „real life“ results of our study confirmed results from randomized control trials.
Keywords
osteoarthritis; pain; oral hyaluronic acid
Hrčak ID:
71879
URI
Publication date:
21.9.2011.
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