[Controlled clinical trials on the effects of Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of osteoarthritis of knee joint at early stage and its MRI changes].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of osteoarthritis of knee joint at early stage, as well as to observe the changes of articular cartilage in MRI before and after the treatment.


METHODS
Sixty patients were divided into two groups according to Doll's law, 32 patients in the treatment group (6 male and 26 female, with an average age of 52.2 years, ranging from 43 to 65 years, 40 joints), 28 patients in the control group (5 male and 23 female, with an average age of 54.4 years, ranging from 42 to 65 years, 33 joints). The patients in the test group were given Chinese traditional medicine orally, and patients in the control group were given celecoxib and the glucosamine hydrochloride orally for three months. MR scan and ISOA score were given respectively before and after treatment. After the treatment, the articular cartilage changes of the weight bearing area were observed to evaluate the therapeutic effects.


RESULTS
All the patients were followed up ranging from 13 to 17 months, with an average of 15.3 months. According to MRI evaluation, 15 joints got an excellent result, and 17 joints got a good result in the treatment group, the total excellent and good rate was 80.0%; and in the control group, above data were 8, 11 and 57.6% respectively. The average ISOA score of the treatment group after treatment was 0.35 +/- 0.16, and in the control group was 3.68 +/- 0.18. There was significant differences between the two groups of ISOA score (t = 6.94, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese traditional medicine can significantly alleviate or inhibit the cartilage degeneration of knee osteoarthritis at early stage and improve joint function. It had significant clinical effects.
Zhang
Hong-mei
HM
The 1st Department of Bone and Joint, Wangjing Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medicine Science, Beijing 100102, China. wangjingzhm@sina.com
Zhang
Zhi-qiang
ZQ
Min
Zhong-han
ZH
Li
Hui
H
Jing
Lin
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome