Medical Evidence
A Meta-analysis of Chondroitin Sulfate
in the Treatment of Osteoarthritis BURKHARD F.
LEEB, HARALD SCHWEITZER, KARIN MONTAG, and JOSEF S. SMOLEN
Objective: To examine the
efficacy of chondroitin sulfate (CS) in the treatment of osteoarthritis
(OA) on the basis of a metaanalysis of controlled clinical trials.
Methods: After personal,
Medline, and Embase searches, a decision tree analysis of the
available publications was performed, with respect to types of
joint involvement studied, study designs, numbers of patients
enrolled, and variables analyzed. The Lequesne index and pain
rating on visual analog scale (VAS) were considered the main variables.
Of a total of 16 publications found, 7 trials of 372 patients
taking CS could be enrolled into the metaanalysis. Although all
selected studies claimed to be randomized, double blind designs
in parallel groups, it should be noted that CS was given along
with analgesics or nonsteroidal antiiflammatory drugs, making
required dosage of comedication an important factor.
Results: Following patients
to 120 or more days, CS was shown to be significantly superior
to placebo with respect to the Lequesne index and pain VAS. Pooled
data confirmed these results and showed at least 50% improvement
in the study variables in the CS group compared to placebo.
Conclusion: CS may be useful
in OA, but further investigations in larger cohorts of patients
for longer time periods are needed to prove its usefulness as
a symptom modifying drug in OA.
Source: J Rheumatol 2000;27:205–11
