[Effect of protracted therapy with chondroprotectors and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on the quality of life in patients with osteoarthrosis].

Dynamics of clinical parameters and quality of life (QL) was evaluated in 281 patients with knee and hip osteoarthrosis (OA) during long-term treatment of different duration. The group was dominated by women (71%) aged 41-65 yr with grade I-III OA according to Kellgren. Patients of groups I and II received only non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, nize), those of groups III-IV the same drugs in combination with structum, chondrolon, and zeel T respectively. Clinical parameters were assessed based on VAS at rest and in motion, Leken's indices, and WOMAC, QL from SF-36 questionnaire. Variable clinical course was recorded in patients treated with non-steroidal drugs alone that caused rapid improvement after the very first treatment sessions followed by deterioration of the patients' condition. Addition of structum resulted in marked optimization of clinical and QL parameters within 3 months after the onset of combined therapy. Similar effect was obtained using chondrolon and zeel T, but 2-3 clinical parameters and 3 QL parameters were not significantly different from the initial ones after 12 and 24 months of therapy. It is concluded that structum produced the best therapeutic effect followed by chondrolon and zeel T. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs had no beneficial action whatever in patients with OA.

[Functional indices in assessment of gonarthrosis treatment efficacy with structum and chondrolon].

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial included 50 patients aged from 40 to 67 years with osteoarthrosis (OA) stage I and II by Kellgren-Lawrence. Patients of group 1 (n=30) received chondrolon, of group 2 (n=20)--structum. Treatment efficacy was assessed by WOMAC scale, Leken's functional index, VAS pain at rest, walking, goniometry findings, time of 30 m walking. RESULTS: A positive clinical effect was achieved in both groups by all the indices. The improvement was significant in VAS pain, functional tests, Leken's index, WOMAC scale. A positive trend in clinical symptoms and tests developed more quickly in the treatment with chondrolon than with structum (in 8 vs. 12 months, respectively). Treatment with different chondroitin sulphate drugs raised quality of life in gonarthrosis patients assessed by WOMAC scale, the effect being comparable. CONCLUSION: Structum and chondrolon can be used for OA stage I-II with moderate dysfunction of knee joints. The treatment course should be long, at least 3 months, 3-6 months for structum.

[Diagnostic possibilities of ultrasonic scanning of the knee joints in osteoarthrosis].

AIM: To examine diagnostic potential of arthrosonography (ASG) in diagnosis of tendenitis in combination with synovitis in patients with gonarthrosis stage I-III by Kellgren's classification. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with gonarthrosis exacerbation were examined with x-ray and ultrasound scanning (80 joints). ASG was made on Aloka-SSD-630 device using two-dimentional scanning in 4 longitudinal and 4 transverse positions. RESULTS: Clinical symptoms of synovitis were predominant in patients with gonarthrosis x-ray stage II (68.3%). In ASG synovitis was detected in 41 (51.25%) of 48 knee joints with clinical picture of synovitis. Ultrasound detected such synovitis signs as increased amount of water in the knee joint cavity and b. suprapatellaris, thickening of the synovial membrane more than 0.3 cm and changes in its structure. Six (7.5%) joints were affected with subclinical synovitis diagnosed only in ASG. Ultrasound visualized Baker's cyst in 5 patients and in 5 knee joints. Periarthritis was detected in 77.5% joints, in 46.25% joints it combined with synovitis, ASG provided differential diagnosis of synovitis with periarthritis. Thinning of the cartilage was detected in most of the joints both in synovitis and in its absence but it was more significant in synovitis (62.5 and 40%, respectively). CONCLUSION: ASG is an informative diagnostic method in periarthritis and synovitis, including subclinical, and give additional information for x-ray diagnosis in gonarthrosis stage I-III.

[Outpatient bioresonance treatment of gonarthrosis]. / Biorezonansnaia terapiia gonartroza v usloviiakh polikliniki.

AIM: Comparative effectiveness of gonarthrosis treatment with standard methods alone and in combination with bioresonance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The trial entered 75 patients with verified osteoarthrosis of the knee joints (stage I-III by Y. Kellgren). They were divided into two groups. 40 patients of group I received standard combined therapy with nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs, reducers of trophic processes, physiotherapy. 35 patients of group 2 received the above standard therapy plus bioresonance treatment (BRT). The treatment course in both the groups took 5-6 weeks. There were no statistical differences between the groups in age, sex, duration and severity of the disease. The response was assessed by changes in clinical and laboratory, arthrological and arthrosonographic parameters before the treatment and 3, 5-6 weeks, 12 months after it. RESULTS: The response to treatment was significantly higher in group II (57.5 against 94%). Symptoms of synovitis and tendenitis relieved more also in group 2 (32.5 against 75%). Group 2 patients retained mild pain at rest for a year, while in group I pains intensified by month 6 after the treatment. CONCLUSION: The addition of BRT to standard therapy of gonarthrosis potentiates anesthetic, antiinflammatory and antiexudative effects; prolongs therapeutic action. BRT was well tolerated. Side effects were absent.