Multicenter study of hyaluronic acid obtained by biotechnology to evaluate clinical efficacy and safety in knee osteoarthritis.

Viscosuppplementation with intra-articular hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan [HA]) is a relatively new option for improving pain and articular function in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis. An open multi-center study was performed in 365 patients with definite and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis from seven Latin American countries. Five doses of HA were administered once a week. The parameters studied were pain (six items), stiffness (two items) and functional capacity (17 items). The parameters were evaluated 1 week after the corresponding injection. Statistical differences were found when basal determinations of the three parameters were compared with the results of the first and fourth administration (p < 0.05). Intra-articular HA administration was well tolerated. Treatment-related nonserious adverse events were registered in 2.5% of administrations. Based on the results obtained, HA is a useful and well-tolerated symptomatic treatment for knee osteoarthritis with a rapid onset of action.