Clinical Question: Is chondroitin s...

Clinical Question: Is chondroitin sulfate effective in relieving pain or preventing the progression of osteoarthritis of the knee in patients with methodical disease?

Setting: Outpatient (specialty)

application of mind Design: Randomized controlled trial (double-blinded)

Allocation: Concealed

Synopsis: Patients 40 to 85 years of age with clinically symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee (according to American corporation of Rheumatology criteria) were eligible to participate in this subject of attention unless they had severe changes onward radiography (i.e., severely narrowed joint space with sclerosis of the subchondral bone) Those who had secondary osteoarthritis or the most numerous severe symptoms were excluded. Patients were assigned randomly to receive 800 mg of chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate (n = 150) or placebo (n = 150) daily for couple years.

The main issues assessed via intention to treat, were radiographic progression and symptom relief as measured by dint of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. Participants and research personnel did not know to which clump the patients were assigned until the conclusion of the study

Although no other than 219 patients (73 percent) complet the two-year application of mind the researchers carried forward the final observation and performed radiography at the time each patient dropp gone out At the end of sum of two units years, patients taking chondroitin experienced no change in joint space width from baseline; in the patients taking placebo, joint space narrowed at an average of 0.14 mm ([+ or -] 057 mm; P = 04) It appears that chondroitin sheltered the joint from further deterioration. However, it had no efficiency on pain.

Bottom Line: After couple years of treatment, chondroitin sulfate has no consequence on comfort in patients with accurate degenerative arthritis of the knee Compared with placebo, however, it appears that chondroitin may have a small protective drift on the joint. The clinical relevance of this tenor is not known. (Level of Evidence: 1b)

close attention reference: Michel BA, et al. Chondroitins 4 and 6 sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, controll trial. Arthritis Rheum March 2005;52:779-86

Used with permission from Barry H Chondroitin ineffective for pain relief in patients with strait-laced knee OA. Accessed online April 27 2005 at: http://www.InfoPOEMs.com.

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