Efficacy of intraarticular combined hyaluronic acid versus placebo in patients with grade 1-3 medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee

Long term efficacy and safety of a combined low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee

Article specifications

This clinical trial was published in 2011 in journal of Rheumatology Reports by Canadian specialists. The primary objective was to determine the efficacy of intraarticular combined hyaluronic acid versus placebo in patients with grade 1-3 medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee as evaluated through the self-paced 40 m walking pain visual analog scale (VAS) at week 16, 52 and 104. Secondary objectives included pain at rest. Active treatment 1 (combined HA of different molecular weight and concentrations) (DMW); Active treatment 2 (LMW); Active treatment 3 (HMW); Placebo (saline). Patients received intra-articular injection once weekly for three weeks. Patients were followed up at week 16, 52 and 104.

 

Results

Greater improvement in patients who received the DMW product was achieved by the second injection persistent to 104 weeks. Combination of Sodium Hyaluronate of lower and higher ranges of molecular weight with low and high concentrations, may provide patients with a more physiologically dynamic HA viscosupplementation and hence a more responsive synovial rheology that improves pain and function in their osteoarthritic knee.