Abstract:

AIM: To investigate the effect of glucosamine sulfate combined with Shenmai injection on knee osteoarthritis.  METHODS: One hundred and twenty patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into combined group and control group, 60 cases in each. The control group was treated with glucosamine sulfate only, while the combined group was given glucosamine sulfate (0.5 g per time, 3 times per day) plus Shenmai injection (5 mL per knee, 1 time per week). Both groups were treated for 6 weeks, and the clinical efficacy of the two groups was observed. RESULTS: The total effective rate of combined group (91.67%) was significantly higher than that of the control (78.33%) (P<0.05). After treatment, the improvement of The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) in the combined group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed with respect to the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups (P>0.05). Levels of serum IL-17 and IL-18 in both groups were significantly decreased, yet the combined group exhibited more significant decrease than the control group (P<0.05). Levels of TGF-β, IGF-1 and FGF-2 were significantly increased, yet the combined group exhibited more significant increase than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Glucosamine sulfate combined with Shenmai injection demonstrate better effect on knee osteoarthritis with low incidence of adverse reactions. Its mechanism may be related to the decrease of serum levels of IL-17, IL-18 levels and the increase of TGF-β, IGF-1 and FGF-2 concentrations.

Key words: knee osteoarthritis, glucosamine sulfate, Shenmai injection, clinical effect, serum related cytokines