FOCAL THERAPY OF OSTEOARTHRITIS - NEW OPTIONS
Objective — assessment of efficacy, local and systemic tolerability of adhesive therapeutic «Wantong ARTIPLUS » (WA) patch, containing 9 herbal and 9 ancillary components in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of knee joints (KJ). Material and methods. 50 patients with VAS pain scores ≥40 mm in «target» KJ, I—III radiographic stage of OA, with at least 4 weeks intake of nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during last 3 months, with no other rheumatologic disease or severe concomitant conditions were included into the double blind placebo-controlled randomized 2-week study. All patients from the study and the control groups (25 patients each) were applying WA or placebo adhesive patch, which had to be changed every 24 h, to one («target») KJ. Placebo patch contained only adjuvant components. Clinical efficacy and tolerability were evaluated by degree of pain attenuation during walking in «target» KJ, by period of time until onset of clinical improvement (from patient's diary), by complete withdrawal or NSAIDs dose reduction, as well as by rate, nature and severity of adverse events. Results. Local application of WA resulted in significant pain reduction while walking (р<0,00001), and general clinical improvement (р=0,00005). 76% of patients in the study group achieved either dose reduction or complete withdrawal from NSAIDs (р<0,01). No significant changes were observed in any of evaluated parameters in the control group using placebo-patches. Therapeutic WA adhesive patch has demonstrated apparent analgesic activity and good tolerability in patients with KJ OA, therefore it can be recommended as a remedy for local analgesia.