Three weekly injections of hyaluronate (Hya-Joint) are safe and well tolerated, provide rapid pain relief as early as 1 and 2 weeks after the first injection, and improve function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment effects can last for 6 months.
Background: Viscosupplementation with intra-articular hyaluronate injections is a safe and effective treatment of knee osteoarthritis. There are several forms of hyaluronate with different origin, method of production, molecular weight, dosing instructions and possibly clinical outcomes. Most current hyaluronate products are avian in origin, and only few are bioengineered via bacterial fermentation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3 weekly injections of a bacterial-sourced hyaluronate (Hya-Joint) in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Methods: As a prospective randomized observer-blind study done in a university-affiliated tertiary care medical center, patients with knee osteoarthritis for at least 6 months were enrolled. Eligible patients were randomized to receive three weekly intraarticular injections of either bacterial-sourced hyaluronate (Hya-Joint) or avian-derived hyaluronate (Hyalgan) into the target knee. The primary outcome was the visual analog scale (VAS) change from baseline for knee pain at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcome measures included Lequesne index, timed up and go test (TUG), patients' global satisfaction and analgesics consumption. Results: A total of 95 participants were randomly assigned and 89 participants completed the study. Both groups had significant improvements in pain as early as 1 and 2 weeks after the first injection, and the pain-reduction effects could last for 6 months, with no between-group differences. The Lequesne index scores and results of TUG tests improved significantly from baseline in both group at all follow-up visits (p\<0.001 for each test compared with baseline), with no significant between-group differences at 1-month and 6-month follow-up. However, significantly greater improvements favoring the Hya-Joint group were noted at 3-month follow-up (p\<0.05). No between-group differences were seen regarding the use of analgesics. Both groups reported high satisfaction at 6-month follow-up. No serious adverse events occurred. Conclusions: Three weekly injections of hyaluronate (Hya-Joint) are safe and well tolerated, provide rapid pain relief as early as 1 and 2 weeks after the first injection, and improve function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The treatment effects can last for 6 months.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
89
The Hya-Joint group received 3 weekly intraarticular injections of 2 ml sodium hyaluronate (Hya-Joint, derived from Streptococcus zooepidemicus and produced by a highly purified biologic fermentation process, molecular weight 650-1200 kDa),into the target knee.
The control group received 3 weekly intraarticular injections of 2 ml sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan, extracted from chicken combs, molecular weight 500-730kDa) into the knee joints.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Veterans General Hospital,
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
visual analog scale
The patient rated the intensity of pain with regard to average pain on knee movement over the previous week using a 10-cm horizontal VAS (10-cm line; 0= no pain to 10= worst imaginable pain)
Time frame: 6 months after the third injection
Lequesne index
Lequesne index was used to assess severity of knee symptoms during the last week23. It is validated and includes the measurement of pain (5 items), walking distance (2 items), and activities of daily living (4 items). Maximal score is 24 and higher scores represent worse function
Time frame: 6 months after the third injection
Timed " Up-and-Go" test
Timed " Up-and-Go" test (TUG) is a simple test of basic physical functional mobility for frail elderly persons with high interrater reliability and content reliability24. A patient is asked to rise from an armchair, walk 3 meters at a safe and comfortable pace, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down again. The whole procedure is demonstrated first before the actual test. The score is the time in seconds it takes to complete these tasks
Time frame: 6 months after the third injection.
the level of global satisfaction
Patients were asked to rate the level of global satisfaction compared to their preinjection condition at each follow-up visit. The rating was based on a 7-point categorical scale weighted from completely satisfied, satisfied, somewhat satisfied, no change, somewhat dissatisfied, dissatisfied to completely dissatisfied.
Time frame: 6 months after the third injection.
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