Significantly higher overall response rate and lower adverse event rate seen with DIA + GlcN-HCl versus DIA alone

TUESDAY, Dec. 26, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- For patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA), diacerein (DIA) plus glucosamine hydrochloride (GlcN-HCl) reduces inflammation and is beneficial compared with DIA alone, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Translational Research.

Zhiyu Wang, from the South China Hospital of Shenzhen University, and colleagues examined the safety and efficacy of DIA plus GlcN-HCl in the treatment of KOA in a retrospective study involving 116 KOA patients admitted between August 2018 and August 2021. Of the patients, 55 and 61 received DIA monotherapy (control group) and DIA + GlcN-HCl (observation group), respectively.

The researchers found that the overall response rate was higher and the adverse event rate was lower in the observation group versus the control group, with the differences reaching statistical significance. After treatment, the observational group had decreased scores of the Lequesne Index, visual analog scale, and levels of inflammatory factors, which were significantly lower than those seen in the control group. The occurrence of complications was affected by tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and treatment mode.

"DIA plus GlcN-HCl are effective in the treatment of KOA, contributing to a lower incidence of adverse events, improved functional status of patients, and better pain relief and inflammation inhibition," the authors write. "This suggests clinical usefulness."

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