Source: Radiology  |  Posted 9 years ago

Four factors predict efficacy of Hylan GF-20 viscosupplementation in patients with knee osteoarthritis: moderate effusion, injection lateral to the patella, joint space loss in a single compartment and radiological meniscal calcinosis.

French researchers say that the factors need to be confirmed, with the impact quantified, in prospective studies. Investigators from Centre Hospitalier Lyon-Sud in Pierre-Benite studied 155 patients with knee osteoarthritis. There were 80 women in the group, and the mean age was 69 years.

Participants received 3 intra-articular injections of Hylan GF-20. At 7 to 14 months, effectiveness and safety of therapy as well as patient satisfaction were assessed through physical examination and response to a 5-item questionnaire.

Evaluation included radiological data on the distribution and degree of joint space, the size of effusion and whether the injection route was anterior, medial to the patella or lateral to the patellar. Side effects were also recorded.

Univariate analysis was followed by multivariate analysis to detect factors predicting effectiveness. Adjustments were made for age, body mass index, gender and time lapse from treatment to questionnaire response.

Satisfaction was good in 78% of patients in the physical examination section and in 58.9% in the questionnaire section. Safety was excellent or good in 96.2% of patients.