Glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis of the knee

https://doi.org/10.1016/S1063-4584(05)80006-8Get rights and content

Summary

Glucosamine sulfate is a drug used for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), based on its pharmacological and metabolic activities on the cartilage and chondrocytes, complemented by mild anti-inflammatory properties and a favorable pharmacokinetic profile.

The aim of this study was to define the activity and safety of glucosamine sulfate on the symptoms of patients with OA, using a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel-group study design. The study included 252 outpatients with OA of the knee (Lequesne's criteria), radiological stage between I and III, and Lequesne's severity index of at least 4 points and symptoms for at least 6 months. Patients were treated with either placebo or oral glucosamine sulfate 500 mg t.i.d. for 4 weeks, with weekly clinic visits. Responders to treatment were defined as patients with a reduction of at least 3 points in the Lequesne's index with a positive overall assessment by the investigator.

The Lequesne's index was 10.6±0.45 s.e.m. points in both groups at the start of the study. This decreased to 7.45±0.5 points in the treatment group (average 3.2) and 8.4±0.4 points in the placebo group (average 2.2) (P < 0.05, Student's t-test). The responder rate in the evaluable patients was 55% with glucosamine (N = 120) vs 38% with placebo (N = 121). These proportions were 52% vs 37% in an intention-to-treat analysis (P = 0.014 and 0.016, respectively; Fisher's Exact Test). The medications were well tolerated throughout the study, with no difference between the glucosamine and placebo treated groups.

It is concluded that glucosamine sulfate may be a safe and effective symptomatic Slow Acting Drug for OA.

References (60)

  • RodenL

    Effect of hexosamines on the synthesis of chondroitin sulphuric acid in vitro

    Arkh Kemi

    (1956)
  • KarzelK et al.

    Effects of hexosamine derivatives and uronic acid derivatives on glycosaminoglycan metabolism of fibroblast cultures

    Pharmacology

    (1971)
  • Vidal y PlanaRR et al.

    Glucosamine: its role in the articular cartilage metabolism 2. Studies on rat and human articular cartilage

    Fortschr Med

    (1980)
  • BassleerC et al.

    In-vitro evaluation of drugs proposed as chondroprotective agents

    Int J Tissue React

    (1992)
  • SetnikarI et al.

    Absorption, distribution and excretion of radioactivity after a single intravenous or oral administration of [14C]-glucosamine to the rat

    Pharmatherapeutica

    (1984)
  • SetnikarI et al.

    Pharmacokinetics of glucosamine in the dog and in man

    Arzneimittelforschung

    (1986)
  • EichlerJ et al.

    Therapy of deforming arthrosis through the action upon the cartilagineous metabolism

    Orthop Prax

    (1970)
  • CrolleG et al.

    Glucosamine sulfate for the management of arthrosis: a controlled clinical investigation

    Curr Med Res Opin

    (1980)
  • DrovantiA et al.

    Therapeutic activity of oral glucosamine sulfate in osteoarthritis: a placebo controlled double-blind investigation

    Clin Ther

    (1980)
  • Mund-HoymWD

    Medical treatment of spinal arthrosis with glucosamine or phenylbutazone. A controlled study

    Therapiewoche

    (1980)
  • PujalteJM et al.

    Double-blind clinical evaluation of oral glucosamine sulfate in the basic treatment of osteoarthrosis

    Curr Med Res Opin

    (1980)
  • D'AmbrosioE et al.

    Glucosamine sulfate: a controlled clinical investigation in arthrosis

    Pharmatherapeutica

    (1981)
  • Lopez VazA

    Double-blind clinical evaluation of the relative efficacy of ibuprofen and glucosamine sulfate in the management of osteoarthrosis of the knee in out-patients

    Curr Med Res Opin

    (1982)
  • LequesneMG

    Clinical features, diagnostic criteria, functional assessment and radiological classifications of osteoarthritis

    Rheumatol Int

    (1982)
  • WeselohG et al.

    Therapeutic aspects in degenerative joint destruction

    Orthopade

    (1983)
  • KellgrenJH et al.

    Radiological assessment of osteoarthritis

    Ann Rheum Dis

    (1957)
  • LequesneMG et al.

    Indexes of severity for osteoarthritis of the hip and knee. Validation-Value in comparison with other assessment tests

    Scand J Rheumatol

    (1987)
  • SanderA

    Principles for the proper conduct of clinical drug trials (translated from Bundesanzeiger 243, 1987, p. 16617)

    Drugs made in Germany

    (1989)
  • PocockSJ

    Protocol deviations

  • Cited by (0)

    View full text