Morphological analysis of articular cartilage biopsies from a randomized, clinical study comparing the effects of 500-730 kDa sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan) and methylprednisolone acetate on primary osteoarthritis of the knee

Effects of 500–730 kDa sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan®) and methylprednisolone acetate on knee ostheoarthritis

Article specifications

This clinical Trial was published in 2001 in Journal of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (IF 2014: 4.165) by Italian specialists. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 500-730 kDa sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan) and methylprednisolone acetate on primary osteoarthritis of the knee. Twenty-four subjects with primary osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were considered. Eleven patients were treated with Hyaluronan (Hyalgan), 20 mg/2 ml once a week for 5 weeks) and 13 with methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol, 40 mg/1 ml once a week for 3 weeks).

Results

Six months after hyaluronan treatment a significant reconstitution of the superficial layer were observed together with an improvement in chondrocyte density and territorial matrix appearance. Hyaluronan treatment produced results that were significantly superior to those delivered with Methylprednisolone in almost all the morphometric estimators. hese results cannot be explained simply by temporary restoration of the synovial fluid viscoelasticity, and provide further evidence that the specific fraction of hyaluronan used in this study is a useful tool in OA treatment, with a potential structure-modifying activity.