title: [Results of the multicenter clinical trial of structum preparation in Russia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study clinical effectiveness and tolerance of structum in patients with osteoarthrosis (OA) of the knee joints (KJ) and hip joints (HJ) in a multicenter open randomised trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 6-month trial of effectiveness and tolerance of structum has been performed in 9 medical centers and included outpatients (males and females) with KJ OA or HJ OA satisfying the OA diagnostic criteria of the American Rheumatology College, having x-ray stage I-III according to Kellgren-Lawrence with manifest pain, a total functional Leken index from 4 to 11, regular intake of non-steroid antiinflammatory drugs (NAID) for 30 days in the last 3 months. Consent was obtained from each patient. 192 patients received structum, 363 matched patients served control. Structum was given per os for 3 weeks in a dose of 1.5 g/day then in a dose 1.0 g/day up to 6 months. The patients continued on NAID. The patients' examination was performed in the beginning of the study, at its months 3 and 6.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leken index in HJ and KJ OA significantly fell after 3 months of structum treatment. Up to month 6 it fell still further (p < 0.05). After 6 months of treatment pain syndrome relieved both at rest and movement, pain at rest disappeared fully in 57% of NJ OA patients and 46% of HJ OA patients, for movement pain it was 17 and 13%, respectively. During the treatment NAID intake was less required in both groups (p < 0.05) while 55% of patients in both groups could discontinue NAID after 6 months of the treatment. Tolerance of the drug was rather good, side effects were mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Structum (chondroitin sulphate) is an effective drug for treatment of KJ and HJ OA: it relieves pain, preserves and improves articular function, allows to reduce or discontinue NAID, is well tolerated.
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Nasonova
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Alekseeva
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Arkhangel'skaia
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Davydova
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Karmil'tseva
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kogan
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Mazurov
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Rebrov
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Riabitseva
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Shemerovskaia
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Shmidt
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Iakushin
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Soldatov
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates