Hyalgan
THE EFFICACY OF HYALGAN®
Listrat V. et al.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 1997; 5 : 153-60
Studies outline: patient's with painful knee osteoarthritis were enrolled in a prospective, controlled study of 1-year duration. After randomization, either conventional therapy or three cycles of three weekly intra-articular injections of Hyalgan were given.
Arthroscopic evaluation suggests that hyaluronan might have a beneficial structural effect in osteoarthritis. Clinical outcome was added using pain visual analog score (VAS)
This study supports existing data concerning the favorable symptomatic effect of intra-articular injections of Hyalgan in osteoarthritis of the knee and suggests that repeated intra-articular injections of Hyalgan might delay the structural progression of the disease
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Frizziero L. et al.
Clin Exp Rheumatol 1998; 16 : 441-49
Studies outline to evaluate, in a pilot, open clinical trial on patients with knee osteoarthritis, the effects of Hyalgan given as 5 weekly injections (once a week for 5 weeks).
Microarthroscopic evaluation: the majority of the patients (60%) showed no changes compared to baseline, while 30% of the patients showed improvements in the grading and/or extension of cartilage lesions.
Morphological examination of the cartilage structure: a statistically significant improvement in the chondrocyte density compared to baseline.
Histological evaluation of the synovial membrane: significant increase in the synovial repair process.
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Lisignoli G. et al.
Arthritis Rheum. 2001; 44 (8) : 1800-7
Study's outline: to investigate the in vitro effect of therapeutic hyaluronan (HA) of 500-730 KDa on anti-Fas-induced apoptosis of chondrocytes, from osteoarthritis (OA) patients.
Chondrocytes isolated from human OA knee cartilage were cultured and the effect of hyaluronan (HA, MW 500-730 KDa), by binding its specific receptors (CD44 and ICAM-1), on both spontaneous and anti-Fas-induced apoptosis was evaluated
This HA fraction may be able to slow down chondrocyte apoptosis in OA by regulating the processes of cartilage matrix degradation
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Guidolin D. D. et al.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2001; 9 : 371-81
Study's outline: histomorphometric study on cartilage samples taken from osteoarthritic human knees before and 6 months after intraarticular injections of a specific fraction (500-730 KDa) of hyaluronan. The results obtained with hyaluronan were compared with the results of methylprednisolone acetate treatment
Hyaluronan treatment produced results that were significantly superior to those delivered with methylprednisolone in almost all the mophometric estimators. Chondrocytes appeared significantly improved in their metabolism and a significant reconstitution of the superficial layer was observed together with an improvement in chondrocyte density and territorial matrix appearance.
These results provide further evidence that the specific fraction of hyaluronan (Hyalgan) used in this study is a useful tool in OA treatment, with a potential structure-modifying activity.
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Frizziero L., Pasquali Ronchetti I.
J Orthopaed Traumatol 2002; 3 : 89-96
Study's outline: this comparative study examined the clinical efficacy and the structural effects of intra-articular injections of Hyalgan, sodium hyaluronate (HA) of molecular weight (MW) 500-730 KDa versus methylprednisolone acetate (MP) in the treatment of knee OA.
Arthroscopic findings at day 180, in comparison with baseline conditions, showed that Hyalgan was superior to methylprednisolone acetate (MP) in reducing grade and extent of cartilage damage. Hyalgan (HA of 500-730 KDa) represents a valid alternative to corticosteroids in the intra-articular treatment of OA with a beneficial effect on the structural alterations. This study supports previous data on a potential structure-modifying activity of HA in OA of the knee.
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Amiel D. et al
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2003; 11 (9) : 636-43
Study's outline: to investigate the long-term effects of single and sequential courses of Hyalgan therapy on OA progression in a rabbit model of OA after anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT).
While HA is classed as a symptom-modifying agent, there is substantial evidence that this therapeutic modality also possesses disease-modifying activity. Animal models of OA were used to investigate the long-term effects of single and sequential courses of Hyalgan (HA, MW 500-730 KDa) therapy on OA progression. Two courses of 5 weekly HA injections reduced significantly the degree of articular degeneration, while showing substantial evidence of disease-modifying activity.
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Jubb R.W. et al.
Int J Clin Pract 2003; 57 : 467-73
Study's outline: a one-year, randomised study to investigate structural changes, as measured by joint space narrowing (JSN), within the knee joint during intra-articular treatment with Hyalgan in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
The primary objective of this study was to investigate structural changes, as measured by joint space narrowing (JSN), within the knee joint during treatment with intra-articular Hyalgan, sodium hyaluronate (HA) of molecular weight 500-730 KDa, in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee.
Those with radiologically milder disease at baseline had less progression of joint space narrowing when treated with HA.
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Fioavanti A. et al.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage 2005; 13 (8) : 688-96
Study's outline: to investigate the in vitro effects of hyauronic acid (HA) of molecular weight (MW) 500-730 KDa on proteoglycans and NO concentrations in human articular chondrocytes.
The protective effects of Hyalgan, hyaluronic acid (HA) of molecular weight (MW) 500-730 KDa were assessed on human articular chondrocytes cultivated in the presence of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta).
A statistically significant restoration of prostaglandin (PG) and a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) levels were observed. Morphological analyses were performed, and an impairment in chondrocyte metabolism and morphology was observed.
These in vitro studies confirm the protective role of Hyalgan (HA, MW 500-730 KDa) and its potential structure-modifying activity.
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