Modern Therapy of Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (osteoarthrosis, OA) is a common rheumatic disease characterized by chronic pain, lowering of the quality of life and a deterioration in the course of comorbid pathology, therefore optimization of the treatment of OA is an important medical and social task. More and more data are accumulating on the importance of inflammatory mechanisms in the development of degradation of cartilage and bone tissue, as well as in the formation of clinical symptoms of OA. Drug therapy plays an important role in the treatment of symptomatic OA, due to the need to suppress the chronic inflammatory process. The most actively used are two groups of medications - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and Symptomatic Slow-Acting Drugs for Osteoarthritis (SYSADOA), which were previously often inaccurately called chondroprotectors. Modern clinical guidelines distinguish celecoxib among NSAIDs, glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate (and their combinations) among SYSADOA, as drugs with an optimal ratio of efficacy and safety. Russian and foreign experience also makes it possible to justify the use of nimesulide and diacerein as drugs with unique mechanisms of action that allow individualizing OA therapy. All of these drugs are represented by high-quality and affordable generics in Russia, which can significantly reduce treatment costs.