Clinical Study of the Intra-articular Injection of Arteparon for Osteoarthritis of the Knee Joint

Double Blind Controlled Study

Abstract

The drug arteparon (mucopolysaccharide polysulfuric acid esters) was developed in West Germany and its effects have been reported by Dettmer, Greiling, Greiling and Stuhlsatz, Platt, and Binzus and Holzer. To test this drug, a double-blind clinical study was conducted by authors using saline as the control (placebo). Although a total of 72 patients were studied, an evaluation of the effects was made on 27 patients in the arteparon group and on 31 patients in the placebo group.It was found that the arteparon group was significantly superior to the placebo group-in terms of total effectiveness and usefulness. Arteparon was more effective than the placebo especially for the alleviation of pain specific to arthropathy of the knee. However, no other significant difference between either group was observed regarding other symptoms. Although the only drug now available for intraarticular injection for arthrosis deformans of the knee is adrenocortical hormones, this hormone causes serious adverse reactions. This study indicates that arteparon can be a useful drug for the treatment of arthropathy of the knee.