title: Effect of chondroitin sulphate on synovitis of knee osteoarthritic patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate by ultrasonography the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS) on synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). To collaborate in the understanding of the biochemical mechanisms involved in the synovial inflammation process.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, single-blind, controlled trial involving 70 patients with primary KOA treated for 6 months with CS or acetaminophen (ACT). Evaluation of KOA status at baseline, 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months included: ultrasonography to assess synovitis (following the OMERACT expertise group definition), visual analogue scale and Lequesne index to measure pain and function, and ELISA to quantify inflammatory mediators in serum and synovial fluid.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Synovitis presence was reduced by 50% in the CS group while a 123% increase was observed in ACT group. Conversely, patients without initial synovitis and treated with ACT reached 85.71% synovitis onset, but only 25% in CS group. Both therapies improved articular function, but only CS resulted in significant pain improvement at the end of the treatment. Changes in RANTES and UCN synovial fluid concentration were associated with CS treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with CS had a sustained beneficial effect, preventing synovitis onset or reducing its presence as well as reducing KOA symptoms. ACT ameliorated clinical symptoms but had no effect on inflammation. The CS anti-inflammatory effect could be related to the observed changes in RANTES and UCN concentration.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Hospital del Mar (IMIM), Barcelona, España. Electronic address: ltio@imim.es.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tío
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Reumatología, Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Cristobal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orellana
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Selene
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez-García
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria INCLIVA, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Piqueras
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Escudero
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Yasmina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Juarranz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Hospital del Mar (IMIM), Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Garcia-Giralt
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España; Centro de Atención Primaria Vila Olímpica, PAMEM, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Montañés
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Hospital del Mar (IMIM), Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Aina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farran
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Hospital del Mar (IMIM), Barcelona, España; Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Pere
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Rosa P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gomariz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria INCLIVA, Valencia, España; Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: María-Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigación Médica Hospital del Mar (IMIM), Barcelona, España; Unidad de Reumatología, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monfort
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000150:complications*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013585:Synovitis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D015415:Biomarkers; D000082:Acetaminophen; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates
keywords: Artrosis de rodilla; Chondroitin sulfate; Condroitín sulfato; Dolor; Inflammatory mediators; Knee osteoarthritis; Mediadores inflamatorios; Pain; Sinovitis; Synovitis; Tratamiento; Treatment