THE COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF CHONROITINE SULFATE AND HYALURONIC ACID IN PATIENTS WITH OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE JOINT

Comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint (OA COP) with chondroitine sulfate (CS) and intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA), as well as their impact on the demand in NSAID therapy and life quality of patients.45 patients (males and females) with OA of the COP in age from 35 to 82 years with duration of disease 7 years were included into the 12-month study. We used SF-36, VAS, radiography and MRI. Patients were devided into 3 groups: Group 1 ? intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids 1,0 ml 3-5 a week, Group 2 ? 500 mg CS, 1 capsule 2 times a day for 6 months. Group 3 ? taking only NSAIDs.There was a significant symptomatic effect of corticosteroids and CS. Therapy with corticosteroids and CS showed slower progression of OA of the COP, that allows to refer them to structural-modifying drugs.