title: [Medical treatment of osteoarthritis].
abstract: Immediate symptom relief, long-term symptom relief and chondroprotection comprise the basis of medical treatment of degenerative joint disease. Nonsteroid anti-inflammatory agents, antalgics and intra-articular infiltrations with corticosteroids provide rapid relief. A more delayed long-term effect can be obtained with a large number of drugs. Chondroprotectors are currently the focus of therapeutic research. Advances in our knowledge of the pathophysiological processes involved in the development of the degenerative process, a critical analysis of current medical therapies and rigorous methodology in clinical trials will soon provide a better range of treatments for patients suffering from degenerative joint disease.
authors.affiliation: Clinique thérapeutique et rhumatologique, CHU Dupuytren, Limoges.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bertin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Treves
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mazieres
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059408:Pain Management
vernacular_title: Le traitement médical de l'arthrose.