title: Evaluation of intramuscularly administered sodium pentosan polysulfate for treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess clinical, radiographic, histologic, and biochemical effects of sodium pentosan polysulfate (NaPPS) administered IM for treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  18 horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Osteoarthritis was induced arthroscopically in 1 middle carpal joint of all horses. Nine horses received NaPPS (3 mg/kg, IM) on study days 15, 22, 29, and 36. Nine control horses received the same volume of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution IM on study days 15, 22, 29, and 36. Clinical, radiographic, gross, histologic, histochemical, and biochemical findings as well as findings of synovial fluid analysis were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No adverse treatment-related events were detected. Induced osteoarthritis caused a substantial increase in lameness, response to flexion, joint effusion, radiographic findings, synovial membrane inflammation, and articular cartilage fibrillation. Articular cartilage fibrillation was substantially reduced by NaPPS treatment, and concentrations of chondroitin sulfate 846 epitope were significantly increased in the synovial fluid of osteoarthritic and non-osteoarthritic joints of treated horses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that NaPPS has some beneficial disease-modifying effects and may be a therapeutic option for osteoarthritis in horses.
authors.affiliation: Gail Holmes Equine Orthopaedic Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. wayne.mcilwraith@colostate.edu
authors.forename: C Wayne
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: McIlwraith
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Frisbie
authors.forename: Christopher E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kawcak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001175:Arthrography / Q000662:veterinary; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester