A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of intraarticular hyaluronic acid for osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of intraarticular (IA) injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) compared to placebo in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee; and to assess patient satisfaction with treatment relative to placebo, and whether there is a difference between a series of 3 versus 6 consecutive IA injections. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, 2-arm parallel design trial of 106 patients with radiologically confirmed knee OA. Two-milliliter IA injections using 20 mg/ml HA sodium salt or saline placebo were administered once weekly over 3 weeks (HA and placebo groups), followed by once weekly IA injection with 2.0 ml (20 mg/ml) HA for a further 3 consecutive weeks. The primary efficacy assessment included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) score for knee pain (Week 3 score). Secondary efficacy assessments included WOMAC scores for knee pain at Weeks 6 and 12 (followup), as well as WOMAC stiffness, physical function and quality of life scores, visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain at rest and following walking and stepping activity, range of knee joint motion, and global patient satisfaction with treatment and quality of life using the SF-36. RESULTS After 3 weeks of study treatment, both treatment groups showed improvements in knee function, the HA group showing a greater improvement compared to placebo in WOMAC knee pain score (p < 0.01). The HA group showed greater (p < 0.05) improvement in the overall WOMAC score and VAS pain following walking and stepping activity at Week 3. Results from all other secondary efficacy assessments at Weeks 6 and 12 including patient satisfaction were similar and were not statistically significant between treatment groups, and there were no significant differences between groups for adverse events. CONCLUSION Intraarticular HA was superior to placebo in improving knee pain and function, with no difference between 3 or 6 consecutive injections for the primary efficacy assessment.