Chondroitin sulfate superior to celecoxib for cartilage loss reduction in patients with knee OA

SAN FRANCISCO ─ Chondroitin sulfate is superior to celecoxib in the reduction of long-term progression of structural changes in knee osteoarthritis, and both treatments were equal in the reduction of the symptoms of osteoarthritis, according to a study presented here at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting.

The double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter study was conducted during a 24-month period in which researchers observed and treated 194 patients with symptomatic primary knee osteoarthritis (OA) with either 1,200 mg/day of chondroitin sulfate or 200 mg/day of celecoxib, according to Nutramax press release.

Three MRIs were performed during the study time period to evaluate disease progression. Validated questionnaires also were used to assess symptoms, according to the press release.

Researchers found patients with OA treated with chondroitin sulfate (n = 97) had a reduction in cartilage volume loss at 12 months (P = 0.017) and 24 months in the medial tibiofemoral compartment (P = 0.013), and global knee at 12 months (P = 0.034) and 24 months (P = 0.054) compared with those treated with celecoxib (n = 97), as noted in the abstract.

The researches saw no change in the synovial thickness or bone marrow lesion size between the two treatment groups.

A marked reduction in the incidence of patients with joint swelling plus effusion was observed in both the chondroitin sulfate group (51%; 59 patients vs. six patients) and the celecoxib group (39%; 55 patients vs. 11 patients), according to the press release.

Reduction in VAS pain at 24 months for chondroitin sulfate and celecoxib was 48% vs. 55%, respectively. Reduction in WOMAC pain was 43% and 54%, respectively. Both groups had similar adverse events and rescue analgesic use.

“This trial is the first of its kind to demonstrate the superiority of chondroitin sulfate in reducing the long-term progression of knee osteoarthritis structural changes,” Jean-Pierre Pelletier, MD, lead author and professor of medicine at the University of Montreal, stated in the Nutramax press release. “The study results have important implications for the long-term management of patients with knee OA. Moreover, it may help reduce the consumption of NSAIDs in these patients.”

Reference:

Pelletier JP, et al. Paper #950. Presented at: American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting; Nov. 7-11, 2015; San Francisco.

Disclosures: None of the study authors report financial disclosures.