Results of a multicenter study of chondroitin sulfate (Condrosulf) use in arthroses of the finger, knee and hip joints

• Published in: Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift Vol. 146; no. 24; p. 609
• Main Authors: Leeb, B F, Petera, P, Neumann, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Austria 1996
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Adult; Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - administration & dosage; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - adverse effects; Chondroitin Sulfates - administration & dosage; Chondroitin Sulfates - adverse effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Finger Joint; Humans; Knee Joint; Male; Middle Aged; Osteoarthritis - diagnosis; Osteoarthritis - drug therapy; Osteoarthritis, Hip - diagnosis; Osteoarthritis, Hip - drug therapy; Pain Measurement; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0043-5341

61 patients, suffering from osteoarthritis of the hip, knee and/or finger joints, were included into this open, multicenter, phase IV trial. Patients were treated with chondroitinsulfate (CS) at the recommended dose for 3 months. Concomitant NSAID-therapy, which was necessary for disease control at the beginning of the observation period could be reduced by 72% throughout the 3 months of CS-therapy. The decrease of pain was revealed to be statistically significant; serious side effects were not to be observed during the study. At the beginning of the observation period patients suffered from overall severe pain, and therefore the decrease of pain down to a level, which could not have been achieved by NSAID therapy alone to a greater extent, is of special interest. The results of this trial represent the first office based Austrian data on CS-therapy. In conclusion it could be demonstrated that a significant reduction of the daily NSAID consumption was possible by concomitant CS-therapy, without the risk of deterioration of the patients' symptoms. The 97% compliance does not give evidence for drop-out bias. Moreover, the results of this trial are comparable to other international double-blind, in part placebo-controlled studies, concerning CS-therapy, indicating beneficial results in the treatment of osteoarthritis.