Cartilage repair and conservation in osteoarthritis. A brief review of some experimental approaches to chondroprotection.
Osteoarthritis is the most prevalent rheumatic disease. Inasmuch as osteoarthritis is predominantly idiopathic, current treatment is aimed not at a cure but palliative management. Research, however, has made considerable forward strides with respect to feasibility of new methods for diagnostic markers of early disease and disease progression, as well as methods to conserve articular damage. This article briefly describes the authors' experience with the use of one type of surgical repair and five different medicinal agents for cartilage conservation.
Howell
D S
DS
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Miami, Florida.
Altman
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D016025:Bone Transplantation; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000637:transplantation; D006085:Graft Survival; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D014945:Wound Healing