Comparison between efficacy of Hyaluronic acid and NSAID for knee osteoarthritis

Relative efficacy of hyaluronic acid in comparison with NSAIDs for knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Article specifications

This review article was published in 2014 in Journal of Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism (IF 2014:0.55) by American specialist. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of hyaluronic acid with NSAIDs for knee osteoarthritis. We searched Medline, EMBASE, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Database from inception until February 2013. Outcomes included pain, function, and stiffness. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed.

Results

IAHA injection was not statistically significantly different in terms of efficacy for symptomatic knee OA from continuous oral NSAIDs at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and end of the trial. Given the favorable safety profile of IAHA over NSAIDs, this result suggests that IAHA may be a viable alternative to NSAIDs in knee OA care, especially for older patients at greater risk for systemic adverse events.