Analgesic and chondroprotective effects of risedronate in osteoarthritis assessed by electroalgometry and measurement of collagen type II fragments in urine.
We evaluated the effect of the bisphosphonate, risedronate, on pain and cartilage metabolism in 33 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee, randomized into two groups. Group RC was treated with risedronate (2.5 mg/day) and calcium (900 mg/day); group C received calcium (900 mg/day) alone. Pain on exercise was estimated using a subjective visual rating scale (VRS) and an electroalgometric method of measuring decrease in skin impedance, previously shown to be indicative of pain. We measured urinary excretion of cartilage-specific collagen type II fragments as a marker of cartilage degradation. Multiple regression analysis revealed that pain alleviation as measured by skin impedance, but not VRS, was associated with a decrease in collagen fragment excretion. This suggests that, for pain evaluation, reduction in skin impedance may have a greater physiological basis compared with VRS-based evaluation. We consider that the chondroprotective and analgesic effects of risedronate may be related.
Fujita
T
T
Katsuragi Hospital, Kishiwada, Osaka, Japan. fujita@katsuragi-hosp.or.jp
Ohue
M
M
Fujii
Y
Y
Miyauchi
A
A
Takagi
Y
Y
D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D024043:Collagen Type II / Q000652:urine; D017097:Electric Impedance; D012968:Etidronic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012044:Regression Analysis; D000068296:Risedronic Acid
D000700:Analgesics; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D024043:Collagen Type II; D000068296:Risedronic Acid; D012968:Etidronic Acid; D002118:Calcium