A retrospective observational study of glucosamine sulfate in addition to conventional therapy in hand osteoarthritis patients compared to conventional treatment alone.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The optimal management of hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is still challenging.

AIM:

To evaluate the effects of glucosamine sulfate (GS) in addition to conventional therapy compared to conventional therapy alone in HOA.

METHODS:

This 6-month retrospective study included 108 patients with concomitant knee and hand OA. Fifty-five patients (GS Group) were treated for six consecutive months with crystalline GS (1500 mg once/day) in addition to conventional therapy for HOA [exercise combined with acetaminophen and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)] and 53 patients (Control Group) with the conventional therapy alone. Primary outcomes were the difference between groups in the change of hand pain on a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and in the Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA) from baseline to 6 months. Secondary outcomes were Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), medical outcomes study 36-item short form (SF-36) and symptomatic drug consumption.

RESULTS:

The patients who received GS presented a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in VAS pain and FIHOA scores compared with the Control Group at 3 and 6 months. Furthermore, GS therapy was associated to a significant improvement of HAQ score and to a significant reduction of acetaminophen and NSAID consumption during the follow-up. No differences in the number of side effects were observed between the groups.

DISCUSSION:

GS could represent a potential successful therapy for HOA and should be tried in large randomized placebo and active controlled trials.

CONCLUSIONS:

The combination of GS with conventional treatment seems to be more effective in improving pain and function than conventional HOA treatment alone.

TRIAL REGISTRATION:

ClinicalTrials.gov, http://www.clinicaltrials.gov date of registration: April 9, 2019, NCT03911570. The present trial was retrospectively registered.

• Authors: Sara Tenti, Nicola Giordano, Nicola Mondanelli, Stefano Giannotti, Emmanuel Maheu, Antonella Fioravanti
• Journal: Aging clinical and experimental research (Aging Clin Exp Res) Vol. 32 Issue 6 Pg. 1161-1172 (Jun 2020) ISSN: 1720-8319 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 31429006 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Observational Study)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Glucosamine

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (therapeutic use)
• Female
• Glucosamine (therapeutic use)
• Hand
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Osteoarthritis (complications, drug therapy)
• Pain (etiology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• Visual Analog Scale