EFFECTS OF ORAL CHONDROITIN SULFATE ON THE PROGRESSION OF KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS - A PILOT-STUDY

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical, radiological and bio logical efficacy and tolerability of the SYSADOA, chondroitin 4- and 6 -sulfate (CS, Condrosulf(R), IBSA, Lugano, Switzerland), in patients s uffering from knee osteoarthritis. This was a 1-year, randomized, doub le-blind, controlled pilot study which included 42 patients of both se xes, aged 35-78 years with symptomatic knee OA. Patients were treated orally with 800 mg chondroitin sulfate (CS) per day or with a placebo (PBO) administred in identical sachets. The main outcome criteria were the degree of spontaneous joint pain and the overall mobility capacit y. Secondary outcome criteria included the actual joint space measurem ent and the levels of biochemical markers of bone and joint metabolism . This limited study confirmed that chondroitin sulfate was well-toler ated and both significantly reduced pain and increased overall mobilit y capacity. Treatment with CS was also associated in a limited group o f patients with a stabilization of the medial femoro-tibial joint widt h, measured with a digitized automatic image analyzer, whereas joint s pace narrowing did occur in placebo-treated patients. in addition, the metabolism of bone and joint assessed by various biochemical markers also stabilized in the CS patients whereas it was still abnormal in th e PBO patients. These results confirm that oral chondroitin 4- and 6-s ulfate is an effective and safe symptomatic slow-acting drug for the t reatment of knee OA. In addition, CS might be able to stabilize the jo int space width and to modulate bone and joint metabolism. This is the first preliminary demonstration that a SYSADOA might influence the na tural course of OA in humans.