CLINICAL EVALUATION OF HYALURONIC ACID COMBINED WITH TOLMETIN IN THE TREATMENT OF OSTEOARTHRITIS OF THE KNEE

ABSTRACT 67 out-patients with idiopathic osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee were enrolled in a six-week, double-blind trial of sodium hyaluronate (HA) plus tolmetin sodium (HA-tolmetin) or HA injected intra-articularly. 34 patients received 5 injections of 10 mg of tolmetin sodium and 20 mg of HA in 2 ml of phosphate buffer at weekly intervals, the other 33 patients only received 20 mg of HA in 2 ml of phosphate buffer in a similar regimen as control. Assessments of activities of daily living (ADL) and pain were made before each injection and 7 days after the final injection The results showed that progressive reductions in the mean scores of ADL and pain were significant in both groups, and the mean scores of all parameters were lower in HA-tolmetin group than in HA group. No evident side effects were observed in HA-tolmetin group. The results suggest that HA and tolmetin have synergism in the treatment of OA of the knee.