The role of chondroprotectors in the correction of pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands with Heberden's nodes

Background. To date, one of the main goals of drug therapy for osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands with Heberden’s nodes is to reduce pain as a result of inflammation. Alflutop is a chondroprotector based on the components of a bioactive concentrate from small marine fish, the main component of which is chondroitin sulfate. Objective. Analysis of the anti-inflammatory, analgesic effects, as well as the safety and efficacy of Alflutop in patients with osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands with Heberden’s nodes. Methods. The results of the examination and follow-up of 130 patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the joints of the hands with Heberden’s nodes are presented. Two groups were identified: group 1 (main), which consisted of 66 women aged 66.2±3.4 years, treated with alflutop 2.0 ml every other day, a course of 10 injections; group 2 (control) - 64 women aged 64.7±6.5 years who received traditional treatment with parenteral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and per os drug diacerein. Results. Assessment of laboratory and biochemical parameters studied in the groups showed a significant improvement in the main group. ESR, C-reactive protein, the number of leukocytes decreased by half already on the 20-21st day of treatment (P<0.05), and in the group 2 the decrease in these indicators was insignificant (P>0.05). Comparative analysis of the parameter «tenderness to palpation» (TTP) according to PAS showed that already on the 20-21st day of treatment with alflutop in the group 1, pain decreased to 32.9±3.1 mm and these changes were significant (P<0.001; in the control group TTP also decreased to 49.8±1.5 mm, however, pain reduction was not significant (P>0.05). The duration of morning stiffness in patients of group 1 on the 20-21st day decreased to 21.2 (19.9; 22.5) minutes (P<0.01), while in the group 2 the stiffness did not change significantly - 32.5 (31.3; 35.0) (P<0.05). All 66 (100%) patients in the group 1 completed treatment, while in the group 2 only 54 (84.4%) out of 64 patients completed the course of treatment due to adverse events. Conclusions. Safety and significant efficacy of treatment were observed in the group of patients treated with Alflutop.

osteoarthritis of the hands with Heberden's nodes, pain syndrome, Alflutop