M. Mihara, S. Higo, Y. Uchiyama, K. Tanabe and K. Saito
This study examined the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and intra-articular injections of sodium hyaluronate (HA) on cartilage degeneration in rabbit knee osteoarthritis (OA) model induced by partial meniscectomy. Loxoprofen sodium (LOX) was used as the NSAID, administered once daily for 14 days starting from the day of meniscectomy. Suvenyl® (SVE) was used as the high molecular weight HA, injected intra-articularly into injured knee every 3 days from the day of surgery. The results show a supression of the decrease in hind paw weight distribution in all groups compared with the control. Visible damage and histopathological findings of cartilage degeneration were evident in the cartilages of the control group at day 14. In the SVE group, the damaged cartilage area decreased and cartilage degeneration was ameliorated. In contrast, in the LOX group, the cartilage degeneration was augmented compared with the control group. And, this exacerbated cartilage degeneration induced by LOX was reversed by the concomitant use of SVE. The authors conclude that the data shows that the treatment with high molecular weight HA from earlier stage is strongly recommended to preserve the structure of cartilage.
Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, Volume 15, Issue 5,