Comparison of hyaluronic acid vs methylprednisolone for knee osteoarthritis

NASHA hyaluronic acid vs methylprednisolone for knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, multi-center, randomized, non-inferiority trial

Article specifications

This prospective, multi-center, randomized, non-inferiority trial was published in 2014 in journal of osteoarthritis and cartilage (IF 2016: 4.53) by orthopedics in England, Sweden and Canada. In this study the efficacy and safety f use of NASHA hyaluronic acid in compare with methylprednisolone acetate in treatments of knee osteoarthritis. 442 patients with knee osteoarthritis were divided in 2 groups 221 were treated with NASHA and 221 with MPA for 26 weeks. The assessment schedule consisted of a screening visit (Visit 1), a baseline visit during which the IA injections were administered (Visit 2), telephone calls at 2 and 4 weeks post-injection to evaluate safety and concomitant medication use, and clinic visits at 6, 12, 18 and 26 weeks post-injection to conduct effectiveness and safety assessments (Visits 3-6). Rescue medication with acetaminophen was allowed at up to 3 g per day. The primary objective was to show noninferiority of NASHA vs MPA in Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain responder rate (percentage of patients with _40% improvement from baseline in WOMAC pain score and an absolute improvement of _5 points) at 12 weeks.

 

Results

The results of the study showed that that the effect of NASHA is longer lasting, with significantly improved pain response at 26 weeks compared to MPA. NASHA is well tolerated in relation to both primary and secondary injections, with most AEs being anticipated and non-allergenic in nature.