Medical Evidence
Glucosamine Sulfate Significantly Reduced
Cartilage Destruction In A Rabbit Model Of Osteoarthritis
T. Conrozier, P. Mathieu, M. Piperno, S. Richard, M. Annefeld,
M. Richard, E. Vignon Claude Bernard University, 2B, CHLS, 69310
Pierre Benite, France
Objective: Gluscosamine Sulfate
(GS) is an effective symptomatic treatment of patients with osteoarthritis
(OA) but the structure modifying effect of the drug is unknown.
Methods: OA was induced in
both right and left knees of New Zealand White male rabbits by
transection of the anterior cruciate ligament. GS (120 mg/kg daily)
was added to the drinking water of 6 animals immediately after
surgery and 6 animals were used as controls. All animals were
sacrified 8 weeks after surgery. Cartilage lesions were evaluated
in blind by the same observer by using both (1) a 8 grades macroscopic
score (1 = softening, 2 = localized superficial fibrillation,
3 = large superficial fibrillation, 4 = small erosion, 5 = large
erosion, 6 = small bone exposure, 7 = large bone exposure) and
(2) an overall assessment of chondropathy using a 100 mm VAS according
to the method of Ayral et al. (J Rheumatol 1996, 23, 698-706).
Results: Both scores were
well correlated (R2 = 64%, p < 0.001). The mean gross score of
the treated (12 knees) and control (11 knees) animals was 13.2
+ 4 and 18.7 + 5.5 (p = .04) respectively. The mean overall assessment
was 21.7 + 14.8 and 47.8 + 11.5 (p < 0.004) respectively. Intra
and interobserver reproducibility of the VAS overall assessment
was evaluated by using photographs of the femorotibial articular
surfaces and was found satisfactorily (R2 = 82 and 66.5%, respectively).
The simple overall assessment of chondropathy used by arthroscopists
is suggested as a reliable and sensitive method in such an animal
study. GS was demonstrated as a structure modifying drug in this
prophylactic study.
Source: American College
of Rheumatology Annual Meeting November 10, 1998; Abstract: 689,
Poster Session C: Osteoarthritis: Methodology and Animal Models