[Effect of a combination of heparin-glucuronylglucosaminoglycan for topical use in modification of pain in osteoarthritis of the knee].

: The aim of the study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of a Heparin-Glucuronilglucosaminoglycane association for external use in patients affected with painful osteoarthritis of the knee. The cutaneous pain threshold and subcutaneous tissue thickness at periarticular level were chosen as parameters for evaluation. In a previous experimental study, they proved to be reliable indexes of pain-related alterations of sensitivity and trophism. These parameters were measured in basal conditions and after 10, 20 and 30 days respectively of therapy consisting in 3 daily administrations of the drug. The measurements were also repeated 30 days after the interruption of the treatment. The cutaneous pain threshold and the subcutaneous tissure thickness underwent an increase and a decrease respectively in comparison with basal values in all the determinations performed. These increases and decreases were statistically significant throughout the whole period of treatment and remained significant even after the interruption of the drug administration (significant levels between p less than 0.04 and p less than 0.001). The possible mechanisms of such effects were examined, according to the pharmacological characteristics of the drug and the pathophysiology of pain and inflammation.