AUTHOR=De Lucia Orazio , Pierannunzii Luca Massimo , Pregnolato Francesca , Verduci Elisa , Crotti Chiara , Valcamonica Elisabetta , Pisoni Laura , Comi Daniela , Lonati Paola Adele , Meroni Pier Luigi , Murgo Antonella 

TITLE=Effectiveness and Tolerability of Repeated Courses of Viscosupplementation in Symptomatic Hip Osteoarthritis: A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study of High Molecular Weight vs. Medium Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid vs. No Viscosupplementation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.01007

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2019.01007

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Nonsurgical management of symptomatic hip osteoarthritis needs real-world evidence. We evaluated the effectiveness and tolerability of US-guided intra-articular treatment of two hyaluronic acids (HAs) commercially available in Italy and investigated predictors of response.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Outpatient records including three cohorts: 122 subjects treated with medium (1,500–3,200 kDa; Hyalubrix<sup>®</sup>) molecular weight (MW) or high (hylan G-F20; Synvisc<sup>®</sup>) MW HAs and 20 controls taking NSAIDs/analgesics on demand were retrospectively analyzed. Pain VAS score, WOMAC, NSAID/analgesic consumption, and causes of suspension were available at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after first administration. As selection bias usually affects observational retrospective studies, a quasi-randomization process was attained by performing propensity score approach.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Propensity score adjustment successfully allowed comparisons among balanced groups of treatments. VAS and WOMAC considerably decreased over time in treated groups independently of the radiological grade (p&lt;0.001). On the other hand, the control group showed only a slight and rather uneven variation in VAS. Mean score changes were comparable in both HA cohorts from the earliest stages (ΔVAS(HA1,500–3,200kDa)<sub>T1vsT0</sub> = −20%; ΔVAS(hylan G-F20)<sub>T1vsT0</sub> = −23%/ΔWOMAC(HA1,500–3,200kDa)<sub>T1vsT0</sub> = −17%; ΔWOMAC(hylan G-F20)<sub>T1vsT0</sub> = −19%), reaching a further substantial reduction after 12 months (ΔVAS(HA1,500–3,200kDa)<sub>T12vsT0</sub> = −52%; ΔVAS(hylan G-F20)<sub>T12vsT0</sub> = −53%/ΔWOMAC(HA1,500–3,200kDa)<sub>T12vsT0</sub> = −45%; and ΔWOMAC(hylan G-F20)<sub>T12vsT0</sub> = −47%). Almost 11% (=13/122) of ineffectiveness and few moderate local side effects 3% (=4/122) were detected.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Viscosupplementation in a real-life setting seems to provide a sound alternative in pain management in comparison to oral NSAIDs/analgesics, guaranteeing a reduced intake of pain killer medications. Analgesic effectiveness, functional recovery, and reduced joint stiffness extend and improve over 12 and 24 months, suggesting that repeated administrations achieve an additive effect.</p>