Intra-articular injection of non-animal stabilised hyaluronic acid (NASHA) for osteoarthritis of the hip: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to assess the safety and potential efficacy of intra-articular non-animal stabilised hyaluronic acid (NASHA) in patients with hip OA.


METHODS
This was a prospective, open-label, 3-month pilot study of a single intra-articular injection of NASHA in 31 patients. Safety outcomes were measured at 2 weeks and 3 months after treatment, as were efficacy measurements including WOMAC pain, stiffness and physical function scores, and the patient assessment of global disease status. Patients demonstrating reduced pain at month 3 participated in an extension phase (assessment at 6-11 months, 18 patients). Positive response was defined as a > or = 40% reduction in the WOMAC pain score from baseline, together with an absolute decrease of > or = 5 points.


RESULTS
Intra-articular injection of NASHA into the hip was well tolerated. The only treatment-related AE was exacerbation of pain and/or stiffness in the treated hip (reported by 9 patients) and there were no serious AEs. The response rate to treatment was 50% at 2 weeks and 54% at 3 months. In the extension population, response rates of 69% and 44% were observed at month 3 and the extension visit, respectively. Global disease status was improved at month 3 compared with baseline in 68% of the patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results show that a single intra-articular injection of NASHA is a well tolerated and potentially effective therapy in the treatment of hip OA. Further studies of NASHA in this setting are warranted.
Berg
P
P
Akademiska Sjukhuset, Uppsala, Sweden. per.berg@ortopedi.uu.se
Olsson
U
U
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015207:Osteoarthritis, Hip / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid