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Researchers recommend further research into specific effects of HA for osteoarthritis

Colen S. Biodrugs. 2012. doi: 10.2165/11630830-000000000-00000

Issue: April 2012

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Upon completing a systematic review of several databases regarding the use of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) in patients with osteoarthritis, Belgian researchers recommended that future research focus on randomized trials with adequate power that compare HA treatment with other types of intra-articular or conservative treatment.

According to their abstract, the authors reviewed all prospective studies of intra-articular HA use in the temporo-mandibular joint, first carpometacarpal joint, shoulder, hip, ankle, sacroiliac joint, facet joints and first metatarsophalangeal joint. Reportedly, the databases used included MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, EMBASE and the Cochrane Clinical Trial Register.

Pooling study outcomes within the databases, the investigators reportedly found statistical evidence that intra-articular HA had a positive effect compared to baseline findings. However, they observed limited evidence for HA being superior to placebo and no evidence for intra-articular HA performing better than conservative therapies such as corticosteroids.

“We think it is useless to further perform and publish (large) non-comparative prospective studies about the use of HA in the treatment of problems caused by OA,” the authors wrote in the abstract. “It is well perceived that HA exerts positive effects in the treatment of OA, but up to now there is no (strong) evidence available that HA is superior to other treatments of OA such as corticosteroids, physiotherapy or other conservative measures.”