title: Effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate on chondromalacia patellae. A placebo-controlled 1-year study.
abstract: The effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS) on damaged patellar cartilage and clinical symptoms of chondromalacia was studied on 31 patients in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by arthroscopy. The treatment consisted of 12 intramuscular injections of either GAGPS or placebo, and the patients were followed for 1 year. In 26 patients, rearthroscopy was performed at the 1-year follow-up. Comparison of the two arthroscopies showed improvement in 8/13 patients in the GAGPS group compared with 3/13 in the placebo group. The clinical parameters correlated well with the results of the arthroscopies. The results support the use of GAGPS for chondromalacia patellae.
authors.affiliation: Oulu University, Department of Surgery, Finland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Raatikainen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Väänänen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tamelander
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D010329:Patella; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C013786:A73025