title: Oral salmon calcitonin reduces Lequesne's algofunctional index scores and decreases urinary and serum levels of biomarkers of joint metabolism in knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of oral salmon calcitonin (sCT) on Lequesne's algofunctional index scores and on biomarkers of joint metabolism in knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized, double-blind trial, patients received either placebo (n = 18), 0.5 mg of sCT (n = 17), or 1 mg of sCT (n = 18) daily for 84 days. Biomarkers included C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II), type II collagen neoepitope C2C, collagenases (matrix metalloproteinase 1 [MMP-1], MMP-8, and MMP-13), stromelysin (MMP-3), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 and 2, and hyaluronan. Statistical analysis included nonparametric tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 41 patients completed the study (13 in the group receiving 0.5 mg of sCT and 14 in each of the other 2 other groups). Although, on day 84, patients in both the placebo group and the group receiving 1 mg of sCT exhibited a similar significant decrease in pain scores, a significant reduction in the function score was observed only in the 2 sCT groups. On day 84, there was no significant decrease in biomarker levels in the placebo group, whereas significant reductions in the levels of both MMP-3 and hyaluronan were observed in the 2 sCT groups. The group of patients receiving 1 mg of sCT exhibited significant decreases in the levels of CTX-II, C2C, and MMP-13.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By improving functional disability and by reducing levels of biomarkers that are thought to be predictive of joint space narrowing (and thus cartilage loss), oral sCT at a dose of 1 mg might be a useful pharmacologic agent in human knee OA.
authors.affiliation: St. Luc University Hospital and Christian de Duve Institute of Cellular Pathology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium. manicourt@bchm.ucl.ac.be
authors.forename: Daniel-Henri
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Manicourt
authors.forename: Moïse
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azria
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mindeholm
authors.forename: Eugene J-M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Thonar
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Devogelaer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D024043:Collagen Type II; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002116:Calcitonin; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3