Medical Evidence
Glucosamine Sulphate : A Controlled
Clinical Investigation In Arthrosis E. D' Ambrosio,
B. Casa, R. Bompani, G.Scali and M. Scali Hospital "G Stuard",
II Division, Parma, Italy
Summary: Efficacy and tolerance
of a new preparation of pure glucosamine sulphate, in injectable
and oral form, were investigated in 30 patients with osteoarthrosis.
Two groups of in-patients with chronic degenerative articular
disorders received daily for 7 days either 400 mg glucosamine
sulphate or a piperazine/chlorbutanol combination by intravenous
or intramuscular injection. During the 2 following weeks, the
patients receiving glucosamine had oral glucosamine capsules (6
x 250 mg daily); the other group had placebo. Efficacy was tested
by semi-quantitative scoring of pain at rest and during active
and passive movements, as well as limitation of articular function,
before and after 7 and 21 days of treatment. Patients were positively
questioned daily for possible intolerance symptoms. Haematology,
circulatory data and urine analysis were tested before and after
treatment. During both initial parenteral treatments, each symptom
significantly improved, but to a faster and greater extent in
the group treated with glucosamine. During the maintenance period,
a further improvement was recorded in the patients treated with
glucosamine, whereas in those on placebo the symptom scores increased
almost to the pre-treatment level. This was considered the major
difference between basic therapy, such as with glucosamine, and
purely symptomatic treatment. Clinical and biological tolerance
were excellent with both treatments, and no definitely drug-related
complaints vvere recorded. It is suggested that parenteral and/or
oral treatment with Pure glucosamine sulphate should be considered
as basic therapy for the management of primary or secondary degenerative
osteoarthrosis disorders.
Source: Pharmatherapeutica,
(1981), 2, 504.