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Hyaluronic acid in knee osteoarthritis: preliminary results using a four months administration schedule
Author(s) -
Abate Michele,
Vanni Daniele,
Pantalone Andrea,
Salini Vincenzo
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12572
Subject(s) - medicine , hyaluronic acid , osteoarthritis , visual analogue scale , viscosupplementation , anesthesia , surgery , intra articular , pathology , alternative medicine , anatomy
Aim To evaluate the therapeutic trajectory of intra‐articular injections of hyaluronic acid at high concentration (2%) performed at 4‐month intervals. Methods Subjects with knee osteoarthritis received, after a weekly injection of 32 mg/2 mL hyaluronic acid for 3 weeks, a single injection of 50 mg/2.5 mL hyaluronic acid (not cross‐linked, molecular weight 800–1200 kDa) at 4‐month interval (4, 8 and 12 months). Clinical assessment (visual analogic scale [ VAS ] for pain at rest and during activities, Lequesne Index [ LI ], Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score ( KOOS ), and monthly non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug consumption) was performed at baseline, and after 1, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 14 months. Results In the 15 knees treated, pain decreased (baseline vs . 14 months: VAS at rest, 3.7 ± 1.7 vs . 1 ± 0.7 [ P < 0.000]; VAS activities, 6.2 ± 1.7 vs . 2.6 ± 1.3 [ P < 0.000]) and function improved (baseline vs . 14 months: KOOS , 51.9 ± 15.3 vs . 70.2 ± 13.7 [ P < 0.000]; LI , 10 ± 3.8 vs . 5.4 ± 2.4 [ P < 0.000]) significantly. Conclusions This schedule provides persistent positive results in terms of reduced pain and improved function, optimizing the protective properties of the hyaluronic acid used.