The efficacy and safety of diacerein in the treatment of painful osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with primary end points at two months after the end of a three-month treatment period.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether the efficacy of diacerein persists at 2 months after the end of a 3-month treatment period, compared with placebo, in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis (OA).

METHODS:

After a 1-week nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug washout period, patients received either diacerein or placebo for 3 months, followed by an off-treatment period of 3 months to determine the carryover effects of the drug. Although patients were followed up through month 6, the primary efficacy end point was the percent change from baseline in pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC] A) at month 5 (i.e., 2 months after the end of treatment) compared with placebo. The co-primary efficacy end point was the percent change from baseline in the total WOMAC score, also at month 5 versus placebo.

RESULTS:

Two hundred three patients were screened, and 168 patients with painful knee OA were randomized. One hundred sixty-five patients were analyzed in an intent-to-treat analysis. At month 5, diacerein showed statistically significant superiority versus placebo as assessed with both the WOMAC A (P < 0.0001) and the total WOMAC (P < 0.0001), demonstrating the carryover effect of the drug. This superiority was already evident from month 2 for pain (P = 0.001) and month 1 for total WOMAC (P = 0.0021). Diacerein was safe and well tolerated. No serious or previously undocumented adverse events were observed during the study.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first published study of a symptomatic slow-acting OA drug in which the time of assessment of the primary outcome end points was 2 months after the end of a 3-month treatment period. The results show that diacerein is safe and effective for the treatment of knee OA and has a long carryover effect.

• Authors: Karel Pavelka, Tomás Trc, Karel Karpas, Petr Vítek, Marie Sedlácková, Vera Vlasáková, Jana Böhmová, Jozef Rovenský
• Journal: Arthritis and rheumatism (Arthritis Rheum) Vol. 56 Issue 12 Pg. 4055-64 (Dec 2007) ISSN: 0004-3591 [Print] United States
• PMID: 18050202 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Retracted Publication)

Chemical References

• Anthraquinones
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• diacerein

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Anthraquinones (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Double-Blind Method
• Endpoint Determination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteoarthritis, Knee (drug therapy)
• Pain Measurement
• Treatment Outcome