Clinica Efficacy and Safety of Hyruan (Sodium Hyaluronate) in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Lee, Shin Seok; Joo, Yeong Shil; Kim, Wan Uk; Park, Sung Hwan; Cho, Chul Soo; Kim, Ho Youn; Kim, Hyon Jeong; Kim, Sung Jae

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of Hyruan(sodium hyaluronate) in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.
METHODS
A 12-week open study of Hyruan was conducted in 48 patients with osteoarthritis(OA) of the knee. Hyruan was injected into knee joints weekly for 5 weeks. Clinical evaluations were performed using visual analog scale(VAS) for pain, Lequesne's index, tenderness and swollen joint counts weekly for the first 5 weeks and then monthly up to 3 months post-injection.
RESULTS
Significant improvements in VAS, Lequesne's index, tenderness and swollen joint counts were noted from the first week and maintained until the end of 3 month follow-up period. At 3 months post-injection, 68.8% of patients had >20mm reduction in the VAS. The patients with Kellgren stage lIl showed significant response in VAS and Lequesne's index as patients with Kellgren stage I and II. The clinical improvement after treatment was slower in patients(n=16) with late(>5 years) OA than in patients(n=32) with early(<5 years) OA, but it was statistically significant in either groups, compared to baseline. There were no severe adverse reactions to Hyruan therapy and laboratory examinations revealed no evidence of toxicity.
CONCLUSION
Hyruan has been shown to be effective and safe in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.