Medical Evidence

Chondroitin Sulfate A (Structum) In Osteoarthritis A. Masounabe-Puyanne Societe U.R.P.A.C., Saint-Cloud, France

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Structum.

Methods: 120 patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and knee were treated for 3 months. This was followed by a 2-month period without treatment in order to study the residual effect. The study was multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial vs placebo, with parallel groups. The consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (expressed in terms of mg equivalent of diclofenac) was selected as the principal parameter.

Results: After 3 months of treatment, NSAIDs consumption had significantly decreased in patients treated with Structum (four capsules/day), and this decrease persisted during the 2-month monitoring period without treatment. In the other parameters studied—measurement of pain by a visual analog scale, Lequesne's functional pain index, and the global assessment by both patient and physician—all showed the same significant tendency. Safety was excellent and no withdrawals from the study were necessary. Chondroitin sulfate A (Structum) therefore clearly appears to be of use in the symptomatic treatment of osteoarthritis: it has a slow action and is NSAID-sparing. Since it has a residual effect, it could be prescribed as sequential therapy.