VIDEO: Chondroitin tops celecoxib in reducing knee OA structural progression

SAN FRANCISCO – Patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who received pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate for 2 years lost about 20% less cartilage volume than did patients treated with celecoxib, according to a randomized, double-blind trial.

Improvements were limited to the medial tibiofemoral compartment, but even such modest structural effects can significantly decrease rates of total knee replacement over time, said lead investigator Dr. Jean-Pierre Pelletier, who presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

The 194 participants in the study received chondroitin sulfate, 1,200 mg a day, or celecoxib, 200 mg daily. Joint effusion and pain and function improved markedly in both groups, and they had similar rates of adverse events, said Dr. Pelletier, who is a rheumatologist at Institut de recherche en rhumatologie de Montréal. He discussed the findings and plans for future research in an exclusive video interview.

Bioibérica sponsored the study and makes the chondroitin sulfate that participants received. Dr. Pelletier and his associates had no other disclosures.

SAN FRANCISCO – Patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who received pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate for 2 years lost about 20% less cartilage volume than did patients treated with celecoxib, according to a randomized, double-blind trial.

Improvements were limited to the medial tibiofemoral compartment, but even such modest structural effects can significantly decrease rates of total knee replacement over time, said lead investigator Dr. Jean-Pierre Pelletier, who presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

The 194 participants in the study received chondroitin sulfate, 1,200 mg a day, or celecoxib, 200 mg daily. Joint effusion and pain and function improved markedly in both groups, and they had similar rates of adverse events, said Dr. Pelletier, who is a rheumatologist at Institut de recherche en rhumatologie de Montréal. He discussed the findings and plans for future research in an exclusive video interview.

Bioibérica sponsored the study and makes the chondroitin sulfate that participants received. Dr. Pelletier and his associates had no other disclosures.

SAN FRANCISCO – Patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis who received pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate for 2 years lost about 20% less cartilage volume than did patients treated with celecoxib, according to a randomized, double-blind trial.

Improvements were limited to the medial tibiofemoral compartment, but even such modest structural effects can significantly decrease rates of total knee replacement over time, said lead investigator Dr. Jean-Pierre Pelletier, who presented the findings at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

The 194 participants in the study received chondroitin sulfate, 1,200 mg a day, or celecoxib, 200 mg daily. Joint effusion and pain and function improved markedly in both groups, and they had similar rates of adverse events, said Dr. Pelletier, who is a rheumatologist at Institut de recherche en rhumatologie de Montréal. He discussed the findings and plans for future research in an exclusive video interview.

Bioibérica sponsored the study and makes the chondroitin sulfate that participants received. Dr. Pelletier and his associates had no other disclosures.