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Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease due to the increasing life expectancy of the world's population. Every 2nd patient over the age of 50 suffers from knee or hip OA, and this is directly related to the increased burden on healthcare. Accumulated data on the comorbid profile of patients with OA dictate the need to identify disease phenotypes in order to provide personalized care. Individual clinical manifestations of OA also require a differential approach: the pain treatment requires consideration of the patient's psycho-emotional profile and the possibility of involving nociceptive pathways in the process. However, due to the ambiguity of existing clinical guidelines, most experts note a number of difficulties in prescribing treatment for patients with OA.The resolution presents an agreed opinion of experts on the algorithms for managing patients with OA, starting from the primary level, with the gradual involvement of related specialists. Some issues of a personalized approach are considered depending on the presence of comorbid pathology and the severity of individual symptoms of the disease. The prospects of the combined use of pharmacological and non-drug methods of treatment are noted; emphasis was placed on the importance of rehabilitation measures at the first level of medical care, provided to patients with OA, long before the development of structural changes.The proposed algorithms for managing patients can be considered as the basis for future recommendations for managing patients with this pathology.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS, patellar chondromalacia) after knee surgery is an important problem in sports medicine, solutions to which have not been developed enough.Objective: to determine the effect of complex treatment using an injectable chondroprotector and special exercise therapy on the functional state, statokinetic stability and severity of PFPS in athletes after reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of the knee joint.Patients and methods. An observational randomized controlled trial included 40 athletes after ACL reconstruction. The patients were divided into two groups. In the control group (n=20), a special rehabilitation technique was used after ACL reconstruction. In the main group (n=20), along with a similar method of rehabilitation, patients received a course of intramuscular injections of Alflutop (1 ml, No. 20). The duration of rehabilitation treatment was 1 month.Pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale and knee joint function using the Kujala questionnaire, statokinetic stability was assessed before and after complex rehabilitation treatment.Results and discussion. One month after the start of rehabilitation measures, both groups showed a significant decrease in pain intensity and an improvement in the functional state of the knee joint according to the Kujala questionnaire. The study of statokinetic stability indicators showed that after the course of rehabilitation in both groups, when standing with open eyes, there was a decrease in the area of the common center of pressure — CCOP (p

The need for effective drugs for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA) is constantly growing. Current guidelines recommend the use of symptomatic slow acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) such as glucosamine (GCA) in this disease. Among various drugs containing GCA, high bioavailability and clinical efficacy have been shown only for prescription crystalline GCA sulfate (pGCAS) administration. Several meta-analyses and network meta-analyses have shown that efficacy of pGCAS 1500 mg once daily is superior to other GCA-based products (such as GCA hydrochloride with or without sodium sulfate) and the combination of GCA with chondroitin sulfate (CS) in terms of reducing the intensity of pain and improving the functional state. These studies confirmed the favorable safety profile of pGCAS, which was comparable to placebo in the incidence of adverse events. Pharmacoeconomic studies have also demonstrated greater cost-effectiveness of pGCAS compared to other GCA drugs.A group of Russian experts at a meeting of the advisory committee reviewed the evidence in favor of the use of pGCAS and evidence of its effectiveness in the treatment of knee OA in comparison with other products that include GCA, and the fixed combination of GCA with CS. Taking into account the results obtained, the use of pGCAS at a dose of 1500 mg once a day is recommended as a rational choice for the treatment of knee OA.

This review is focused on the issue of terminology in patients with multiple coexisting diseases in modern clinical practice. We articulate that multimorbidity is one of the leading problems in the field of public healthcare and that the treatment of these patients demands an integral approach derived from the combined nature of the pathology . It was shown that multiple coexisting diseases have a negative effect both on the course of osteoarthritis (OA) and its concomitant ailments, including higher risk of polypharmacy and death. Extra attention is paid to slow-acting symptomatic drugs, which often have positive pleiotropic effects towards both the OA and the concomitant diseases. In particular, there is more and more research showing evidence of the beneficial effects of chondroitin sulfate both on the OA treatment effectiveness as well as on the terms of cardiometabolic prognosis, mitigation of glucose metabolism deficiency and mortality.

The review systematizes modern data indicating effective pain control and a significant improvement in the functional activity of patients suffering from osteoarthritis (OA) using pharmaceutical substances of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine (GA). The effect of a combination of CS and GA on subclinical inflammation (low-grade inflammation) in the joints, slowing down the progression of OA, reducing cardiovascular risk, metabolic disorders, etc. are discussed. There are promising reports of a possible decrease in overall mortality and mortality from cardiovascular diseases during long-term therapy with symptomatic delayed-acting drugs (SYSADOA). A wide range of pleiotropic effects of CS and HA allows us to classify these drugs as geroprotectors and recommend their use not only in OA, but also in various comorbid conditions.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) drugs are ingrained in complex treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). They have not only lubricant, but also anti-inflammatory properties, and ability to slow down the progression of OA. The article summarizes current data on the efficacy and safety of low molecular weight HA. The possibilities of using it both intra-articularly (i/a) and for the treatment of tendinopathies are considered. The authors present their own clinical experience in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal (MS) pain syndromes.It has been shown that i/a administration of HA can effectively reduce the intensity of pain and improve joint function, and when injected into the synovial sheaths of tendons, it can also relieve pain of extra-articular localization. The peculiarities of the surgical technique, preparing for manipulation and post-injection period management are described.The existing evidence base indicates the expediency of active use of HA drugs not only for OA treatment, but also for various extra-articular musculoskeletal pain syndromes.

Modern therapy of osteoarthritis (OA) consists of four sequential stages and includes non-pharmacological, pharmacological and surgical methods of treatment, and also assumes the possibility of collaborative management of the patient by doctors of different specialties, which allows to optimize the processes of diagnosis and treatment. The article presents simple and convenient algorithms, including diagnostic criteria, options for providing medical care, as well as situations (so-called red flags) that require referral of a patient to a specialist, primarily a rheumatologist. It has been demonstrated that the early use of the well-proven SYSADOA in any localization of OA, in particular the combined drugs of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine, can increase the effectiveness of treatment, reduce possible functional disorders, and minimize the adverse effects of analgesic therapy.

Objective – to compare the results and complications of open wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) in patients operated on according to the standard technique and using the developed method of performing the operation using the original fixator.Materials and methods. 73 patients with primary and secondary OA of the knee I–III stages were recruited into the study, which were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 43 patients, who underwent 46 OWHTO from 2005 to 2019 using the standard technique using short plates with a fixed spacer (Puddu I (5 times) and II generation (24 times), Osteomed (17 times)) and bone grafting. Group 2 consisted of 30 patients who were operated on in 2018– 2020 using the developed surgical technique and the original fixator. To assess the result, we studied the change in pain according to the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), as well as the functional (FS) and objective scores (OS) of the knee according to the Knee Society Score (KSS) before surgery, after 3 months and 1 year after OWHTO.Results. In group 1, one year after OWHTO, the results were obtained: excellent in 43.5% of cases, good – in 41.0% and satisfactory – in 15.2% of patients. In group 2, an excellent result was obtained in 59.3% of patients, good – in 33.4% and satisfactory – in 7.3% of cases. In group 1, 15 (32.7%) patients were diagnosed with 26 complications, and in group 2 – 5 (16.6%) patients with 5 complications.Conclusions. The use of the developed surgical technique and the original fixator made it possible to increase the percentage of excellent and good treatment results from 84.5% to 92.7% and to reduce the number of complications associated with OWHTO from 32.7% to 16.6%.

Currently chondroitin sulfate (CS) is the most studied drug from the group of «chondroprotectors». The article shows the role of CS in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA): mechanism of action, clinical efficacy and safety in patients with OA with comorbidity. Evidence for the effectiveness and safety of the use of CS has been analyzed. The place of this drug in Russian and international clinical guidelines for the management of patients with OA is discussed.In domestic practice, the parenteral form of CS is often used in patients with OA. The parenteral form of CS for intramuscular and intra-articular administration (Chondroguard®) has a number of advantages, including the rapid onset of the effect. This enables reducing the dose in a short time or completely abandon the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which is extremely important for patients with OA with comorbidity. Chondroguard® can be recommended for initial use in exacerbations of chronic joint and back pain in OA, including in patients with relative and absolute contraindications for NSAID therapy.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) act as receptors for bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and participate in innate immunity. Excessive TLRs activity leads to chronic inflammation and the development of several comorbid pathologies, including osteoarthritis (OA). Computer analysis of 52,312 publications devoted to TLRs was made to systematically describe the mechanisms of biological action of TLRs and their influence on the OA pathophysiology. In addition, we identified the mechanisms by which slow-acting drugs based on standardized forms of chondroitin sulfate (CS), which have symptom-modifying and structural-modifying effects, can decrease TLRs activity and be used in the treatment of OA. Our conclusions are supported by the results of TLRs chemoreactom analysis, as well as by clinical and experimental data.

Combating the consequences of COVID-19, a disease caused by the new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2, is a serious and very urgent task facing modern medicine. COVID-19 often has a severe course and is accompanied by multiple organ damage, systemic immune inflammation, coagulopathy, neuroendocrine and metabolic disorders. Even with a relatively favorable course, the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection can be degenerative changes in many organs (pulmonary fibrosis, cardiosclerosis), various functional and psychoemotional disorders. As a result, in 10–50% of patients, various unpleasant symptoms persist for a long time after the acute manifestations of COVID-19 subside and the virus is eliminated. This pathology is referred to as “post-COVID syndrome” (PCS). The main elements of PCS are chronic pain, fatigue, and psychoemotional problems. Functional disorders, autoimmune processes, and severe psychological distress after COVID-19 can cause the development and exacerbation of diseases characterized by chronic pain and fatigue, such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Therapy and prevention of PCS include correction of functional disorders, pain control, and consistent physical, psychological, and social rehabilitation.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a significant social problem as it is the most common disease of the joints. OA is a multifactorial disease in which great attention is paid to hereditary factors. Recently, a number of studies have demonstrated the contribution of a number of genes to the subjective assessment of pain in OA, which is the main symptom of this disease. The association of P2X7, TRPV1 and TACR1 genes and some others with pain sensitivity has been shown. One of the risk factors of pain among many others, is the increased weight. Abdominal adipose tissue is a source of release of pro-inflammatory adipokines that cause systemic inflammation associated with damage to many tissues, including subchondral bone, synovial membrane. Leptin is an endogenous hormone from the adipokine family encoded by the obesity gene leptin (LEP) and which is synthesized primarily in adipocytes.Aims: To investigate the possible association of rs2167270 (A19G) polymorphism of the LEP gene with pain intensity in ­patients with knee OA.Materials and methods: The study was conducted among women diagnosed with OA. Using the VAS scale (Visual analog scale), patients with mild knee pain — group 1 (VAS ≤ 40 mm) and patients with moderate or severe pain — group 2 (VAS>40 mm) were selected for pain assessment. Genetic variants of A19G leptin gene polymorphism were studied by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length analysis (PCR-RFLP) method.Results: In the group of patients with moderate or severe pain intensity (group 2, n=61), a statistically significant association was shown with a higher body mass index (p=0.006) and an increased frequency of carriers of the 19GG genotype (p=0,051) compared to group 1 (n=36). Carriers of the 19GG genotype statistically significantly had a higher rate of knee pain and an early age of OA debut compared to carriers of the 19AA genotype (p=0,035 and p=0,015, respectively).Conclusions: The findings open up new possibilities for predicting pain symptoms in patients with knee OA by genetic testing of A19G polymorphic variants of the leptin gene.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common pathology of the musculoskeletal system and is a serious medical and social problem. OA is of particular importance in elderly and senile people due to the high frequency of comorbid pathology. Pain relief is a priority in the formation of individual therapeutic programs for patients with OA, starting from their first request for medical assistance. At the same time, due to the ambiguity of existing clinical recommendations, most experts note a number of difficulties in prescribing treatment for patients with OA.The article presents a consensus position of experts regarding a complex approach to the choice of therapy in patients with OA at the initial visit to the doctor. The article discusses: current clinical guidelines for the management of patients with OA; most common problems in the management of patients with OA in real clinical practice; goals of treatment strategies for OA taking into account the risk factors for its progression; an algorithm of pain relief during initial treatment in patients with OA; prevention of OA exacerbations with the use of basic structure-modifying drugs; recommendations for the choice of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.According to experts, a rational approach to the treatment of OA is based on the combined use of non-drug and pharmacological methods with constant monitoring of therapy regimens and side effects. These recommendations can be considered disease-modifying strategies that in many cases allow improving functional status and achieving long-term remission in patients with OA.

The problem of chronic musculoskeletal pain, the cause of severe suffering and disability of hundreds of millions of people on our planet, is far from being solved. Pain control is particularly difficult in patients with severe forms of osteoarthritis (OA) and chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP). Popular analgesics – nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and opioids, demonstrate moderate effectiveness and a high risk of adverse events (AE). This leads to the search for new approaches for analgesic therapy. Tanezumab is a monoclonal antibody that specifically blocks nerve growth factor, which plays a key role in the development of chronic pain. A series of phase II and III studies showed that tanezumab was administered intravenously or subcutaneously at a dose of 2.5 mg to 20 mg once every 8 weeks. In patients with OA or CNSLBP, it has a pronounced and persistent analgesic effect that exceeds the effect of placebo, and is equal to or superior to the effect of many months of daily intake of naproxen, celecoxib, diclofenac, oxycodone and tramadol. Tanezumab can cause various AE, primarily rapid progression of OA (in 2.6–6.0%) and neurological disorders (paresthesia and hyposthesia, in ≈5%). At the same time, the progression of OA was significantly more often observed with the combined use of tanezumab and NSAIDs. Nevertheless, taking into account the characteristics of patients who used tanezumab (patients with pain refractory to standard treatment; severe forms of OA), the good analgesic potential of tanezumab allows us to consider it as a promising tool for the control of chronic musculoskeletal pain, which will be widely used in real clinical practice.

The article highlights the current status of symptomatic slow-acting drugs (SYSADOA) in osteoarthritis (OA). Mechanism of action, clinical studies data on the effectiveness of glucosamine (GA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) and their combinations in OA, their positive symptomatic and structural-modifying effects, are described. The article provides the latest recommendations for the OA treatment with these two drugs and presents an argument for the combination therapy with both drugs as a background therapy in the earliest stages of OA. It is indicated that such therapy should be long-term due to its high safety and possible reduction of cardiovascular accidents risk as well. It is noted that therapeutic doses of CS and GA are ≥1500 and ≥800 mg per day, respectively, and encapsulated forms of SYSADOAs have advantages due to their pharmacokinetic features.

A systematic analysis of 37 post-genomic osteoarthritis (OA) studies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) allowed to isolate 483 genes and corresponding proteins, their levels and activity disturbances are involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. These proteins can be conditionally subdivided into three groups: 1) structural proteins of connective tissue (CT); 2) proteins that support the activity of CT growth factors; 3) proteins that promote CT remodeling and degradation, as well as proteins associated with the regulation of inflammation (cellular response to tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1, bacterial lipopolysaccharides, NF-κB activation, etc.). It is important to note the epigenetic effects (DNA hypomethylation) associated with the pathogenesis of OA, which indicates the need for the use of vitamins group B in the therapy. Chondroprotectors (symptomatic slow-acting drugs) – chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine sulfate (GS), – in addition to reducing inflammation through inhibition of NF-κB and lipopolysaccharide receptors (Toll-receptors), also contribute to an increase in the expression of genes for structural CT proteins, CT growth factors and modulate the activity of CT remodeling and degradation proteins. These effects of CS/GS allowed to describe the complex mechanisms of the pathogenetic action of CS/GS in the treatment of OA.

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex (GPC, Rumalon) used in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and comorbidities (hypertension and/or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).Patients and methods: A 10-month multicenter (13 centers from 10 subjects of the Russian Federation) prospective study included 179 patients with Stages II–III primary tibiofemoral knee OA and comorbidity, a walking pain intensity of ≥40 mm on a visual analogue scale (VAS), and a need for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for at least 30 days in the previous 3 months). The efficiency of treatment was evaluated from the changes in VAS scores for knee pain intensity during walking, the overall WOMAC score and scores of its individual indicators, laboratory parameters, and ultrasound data. All the patients received 2 cycles of GPC treatment with 25 injections, by following the manufacturer's instructions.Results and discussion. Even at 2 months after starting the treatment, there was a statistically significant reduction in pain during walking from 60 (50–69) to 40 (27–53.5) mm on the VAS (p< 0.05), which persisted during the follow-up period. A similar pattern was found when assessing the WOMAC index and its components. The drug demonstrated an anti-inflammatory effect: a decrease in the number of patients with synovitis from 55.7 to 39.2% (p=0.02), the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) from 3.2 (1.3–6.2) to 2.6 (1.2–5.7) mg/l (p< 0.05). GPC was ascertained to have a safety profile.Conclusion. The data of this study confirm the good therapeutic effect and safety of GPC Rumalon in knee OA patients with hypertension and/or T2DM. The drug is shown to have a rapid analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect, as well as a positive influence on all clinical manifestations of OA.

Aim. A meta-analysis of 8 controlled studies (n=771, age 53.6±6.2 years) of tie use of tie Chondroguard (100 mg i.m. first 3 injections, from tie 4th injection - 200 mg i.m., EOD, course 20-30 injections) in the complex therapy of osteoarthritis (OA).Materials and Methods. Tie meta-analysis according to tie fixed-effects model included all published clinical studies on tie efficacy and safety of the CG drug in OA). The effectiveness of therapy was assessed using the VAS, Lequesne, WOMAC scales/indices. For each study, information was collected on 23 features. Data analysis was carried out using the MEDSTUDY and "R" software packages.Results. Meta-analysis confirmed significant associations between the use of Chondroguard (CG. and pain reduction assessed by the visual analog scale (V)S. - CG: a decrease in pain intensity by -28.3 points, control: -11.6; p=0.042. There was a significant reduction in pain according to VAS at night (CG: -20.1; control: -9.9; p=0.05018., while sitting or lying down (CG: -15.5; control: -7.6; p=0.01656., when walking (CG: -28.2; control: -17.0; p=0.04957). The use of CG led to a significant decrease in the scores of the Lequesne index (CG: -4.3; control: -1.4; p=0.0349., and of the WOMAC index (CG: -338.4; control: -219.8; p=0.004., including WOMAC "function" (CG: -247.8; control: -96; p=0.0027., and WOMAC "stiffness" (CG: -25.4; control: -11.2; p=0.0462.. The incidence of side effects did not differ significantly from the control.Conclusion. Chondroguard is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis and has a good safety profile.

The modern concept for the treatment of osteoarthritis is based on the complex use of drugs, non-drug methods, medical and social rehabilitation. At the same time, non-pharmacological methods play an important role, given the natural combination of osteoarthritis and serious comorbid diseases, which significantly increase the risk of developing dangerous drug complications. One of the most common non-drug methods that is widely used in inpatient and outpatient treatment of osteoarthritis is magnetic therapy. During the Council of Experts, with the participation of therapists, rheumatologists, rehabilitologists and physiotherapists, the issues of the scientific substantiation of the use of magnetic therapy in clinical practice, the methodology of this method of treatment, the existence of an evidence base for its effectiveness and safety, as well as the advisability of including magnetic therapy in the national recommendations for the treatment of osteoarthritis were discussed.

The spread and consequences of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are currently one of the most pressing public health challenges in the world. Despite the fact that experience accumulates in the treatment and monitoring of COVID-19 patients, certain aspects are still a clinical dilemma. In particular, this regarded the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) during the pandemic, both as a symptomatic treatment of infection, and in patients with comorbidities requiring NSAID. A series of studies did not establish evidence of the risk of infection and complications from NSAID therapy in COVID-19. At the same time, the practitioner should take into account the risk of specific NSAID-associated complications, which also remain relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. This resolution focuses on the evolution of ideas about NSAID use and safety in COVID-19, and also emphasizes the particular relevance of their use for a number of clinical situations.

The aim of the study was to develop ways to improve the diagnosis and treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-ILD. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a common manifestation of SSc. In the territory of the Siberian Federal District (SFD), the number of patients with the progressive phenotype of SSc-ILD is approximately 750 people. When immunosuppressive therapy is ineffective and pulmonary fibrosis progresses, lung transplantation is indicated. The emergence of new possibilities of pathogenetic therapy currently requires studying the possibilities of their applications in real clinical practice on the territory of the SFD.Discussion. The results of a discussion of diagnostics, therapy, and routing of a rheumatology patient during the interdisciplinary observation of SSc-ILD in the SFD are presented. The reason for this discussion was the new data on the use of nintedanib in this category of patientsConclusion. To improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment of patients with SSc in the SFD, it is necessary to implement the principle of a multidisciplinary approach with the obligatory involvement of a pulmonologist and a radiologist (a specialist in CT diagnostics), and, if differential diagnosis is necessary in difficult clinical situations, of a pathomorphologist. An urgent task is the introduction of an algorithm for examining patients with SSc for the timely diagnosis of ILD in the territory of the Siberian Federal District. To improve the quality of medical care in the territory of the SFD for patients with ILD-SSc it is necessary to create a reference center in the city of Novosibirsk with the possibility of initiating anti-fibrosis therapy.

Early osteoarthritis (OA) is a poorly studied problem, the importance of which is due to both the prevalence of OA in the population and the high medical and economic costs of treatment and rehabilitation in patients with this disease. The accumulating data indicate that the earlier active management of patients with OA may lead to a better long-term prognosis; to date, however, the very formulation of the concept of «early osteoarthritis», as well as the holistic clinical diagnostic criteria of the disease, have not been fully formulated. The paper considers the problem associated with the elaboration of approaches to diagnosing early OA with clinical, laboratory, and modern instrumental examinations.

Objective: to assess pain dynamics, daily functional activity of joints, quality of life, and treatment satisfaction in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis (KOA and HOA), who long take a combined glucosamine (GA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) drug in routine clinical practice.Patients and methods: An interim analysis of data from an open multicenter prospective non-interventional study that is being conducted in the Russian Federation was carried out. The study included patients with Kellgren–Lawrence Stages I–III KOA or HOA, who were treated with a combined GA and CS drug (Theraflex®). The interim analysis was based on the data obtained at 16–24 weeks of treatment (Visit 2) in 542 patients (50% of the total sample).Results and discussion. A study group included patients with KOA (n=399) or HOA (n=143) from 43 centers in Russia. At visit 2, the KOA/HOA patients showed positive changes in all subscales of the Knee disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS/Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS) questionnaires compared to the baseline level. The proportion of patients with a ≥20% increase in different subscale scores ranged from 42.6 to 67.4% for KOA and from 47.6 to 66.4% for HOA.Most (89.1%) patients took Theraflex® for ≥3 months. 76,1% of patients were satisfied with treatment efficiency. Adverse events (AEs) related to treatment were recorded in 16 (3.0%) patients and included mainly gastrointestinal tract disorders in 12 (2.2%) cases.Conclusion. The results obtained at 16–24 weeks of Theraflex® treatment are indicative of a decrease in the frequency and intensity of pain and other symptoms of OA, as well as increases in joint functional activity and quality of life in patients with KOA or HOA after the first cycle of therapy. The majority of the patients were satisfied with the treatment. The incidence of drug-related AEs was low, while their nature was consistent with information on the drug's side effects.

in 3 mL on patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in a multicenter prospective study. Materials and methods. 79 outpatients (predominantly females 81.0%) from 5 RF constituent territories with primary tibiofemoral KellgrenLawrence score grade II or III knee OA, 40 mm pain intensity during walking on visual analogue scale (VAS), requiring NSAIDs intake (for at least 30 days during 3 months prior to enrollment) were included into the study after signing the informed consent form. Mean age was 60.38.7 years, mean BMI 29.24.7 kg/m2, disease duration 6 (310) years. Grade II OA was documented in 68.4% of patients, Grade III in 31.6%. The study lasted for 6 months. Efficacy and safety evaluations were made based on VAS pain assessment, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) [WOMAC pain (0500), WOMAC function (01700), WOMAC stiffness (0200)], VAS patients health status, EQ-5D-based assessment of patients quality of life, global physicians and patients efficacy assessment, and daily NSAIDs requirements. Results. Obtained results demonstrate statistically significant VAS pain reduction during walking already in 1 week after intra-articular injection of the combination [respectively, 62 (5572) and 41 (3251) mm, р0.0001]. Moreover, pain continued to subside during all 3 months of follow up [in 1 month 28 (2042), in 3 month 22 (1437) mm]. A significant pan reduction achieved at Mo 3 persisted until Mo 6 20 (1442) mm, without documented pain increase. Similar trends were observed with total WOMAC score [1125 (8991540) at baseline, and 552 (309837) mm by the end of the study, p0.0001], and all WOMAC sub-scores [268 (189312) baseline WOMAC pain, 91 (48171) mm by the end of the study p0.0001; stiffness 101 (59130) and 40 (2061) mm, p0.0001; function 802 (6471095) and 402 (191638) mm, p0.0001, respectively]. Median time to the onset of therapeutic effect was 7 (518) days. Statistically significant improvement of patients quality of life by EQ-5D and general health status was observed during all follow up period [respectively, 0.52 (-0.020.59) and 0.69 (0.590.80), р0.0001; 48 (3060) and 72 (6080) mm, р0.0001]. One injection of the drug resulted in dose reduction or discontinuation of NSAIDs therapy: at baseline 76 patients (96.2%) were taking NSAIDs, in one week 31 (39.2%) patients discontinued NSAIDs, in 1 month 72.2%, in 3 months 73.4%, and by the end of the study at Mo 6 54.4% were not taking NSAIDs. These data were consistent with physicians and patients global assessment of the efficacy of treatment, who stated significant improvement and improvement in the majority of cases, with only few no effect or worsening cases documented in analyzed population. Adverse events, such as worsening of pain and/or swelling of the joint, were documented in 8 patients (10.1%); they resolved spontaneously or following NSAIDs intake. Conclusion. These results suggest that intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid plus chondroitin sulfate in patients with knee OA are efficient and safe. A single injection of the drug resulted in statistically significant reduction of pain and stiffness, reduction in NSAIDs intake, as well as improvement in patients quality of life and function.

Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) often show changes in the locomotor apparatus (LMA), in particular cheiroarthropathy, a specific lesion of the connective tissue structures of the hand in the presence of persistent hyperglycemia, which leads to limited joint mobility (LJM) generally in the absence of pain syndrome. Some authors use the term «LJM syndrome» to describe LMA lesion in DM, since in the long course of the disease, the small and large joints of not only the upper, but also the lower limbs are involved in the pathological process. LJM is one of the little studied and poorly diagnosed conditions in comparison with traditional micro- and macro-vascular complications of DM, which, due to their direct correlation with life expectancy, receive more attention. The LJM syndrome is associated with other late complications of DM and can significantly impair functional activity, self-care, and quality of life. Damages to periarticular tissue and joints in DM are believed to be caused by the accumulation of glycation end products. A clinical examination plays a key role in the diagnosis of cheiroarthropathy.

Glycosaminoglycan-peptide complex (GPC) is a popular injectable extended-release symptomatic agent (ERSA) in Russia for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA). To date, no large-scale studies of GPC used in real clinical practice have been conducted in our country.Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GPC in the treatment of OA in real clinical practice.Patients and methods. A multicenter observational non-interventional study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of GPC (Rumalon® , a cycle of intramuscular injections thrice weekly; a total of 25 injections). A study group consisted of 2,955 patients (75.4% female) aged 61.4±11.8 years) with knee and hip OA, and generalized OA (GOA) with the previous inefficacy of oral ERSAs, moderate/severe pain, and the need for regular use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). 414 (14%) patients received a GPC and diacerein combination 100 mg/day. The investigators assessed the dynamics of pain during movement and at rest, functional disorders (on a numeric rating scale (NRS) of 0–10), as well as the need for NSAIDs at 12 weeks after starting the GPC cycle.Results and discussion. 98.5% of the patients completed their GPC treatment cycle. The therapy decreased the intensity of pain at rest from 4 [3; 5] to 1 [0; 2] and during movement from 6 [5; 7] to 2 [1; 3] and reduced the severity of functional disorders from 5 [4; 6] to 1 [0; 3]. The number of patients with a good response to therapy (a≥50% decrease in symptom severity) for pain at rest and during movement was 55.6 and 53.5%, respectively; and for functional disorders was 50.8%. 68.1% of patients stopped taking NSAIDs. The GPC and diacerein combination was more effective than GPC monotherapy: the number of patients with a ≥50% decrease in movement pain was 62.8 and 54.3%, respectively (p

The paper provides a review of the data available in the literature on the relationship of pain to the risk of OA progression. Network analyses and numerous studies, including those conducted at the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, have confirmed that pain syndrome is one of the significant predictors of knee OA progression. The major class of medications for OA pain includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The paper gives data on the efficacy of meloxicam in OA patients, which is widely used in both Russia and other countries of the world. Meloxicam is characterized by a good safety profile in the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular and renal systems. It is the drug of choice in patients with musculoskeletal diseases, in particular OA. Good results in severe pain syndrome have been shown by a step-by-step regimen of meloxicam when the injection formulation of the drug is used in the first days of treatment, and then, to consolidate what has been gained from therapy, its oral dosage form is administered in terms of concomitant diseases.

Osteoarthritis (OA) belongs to diseases with high comorbidity and most frequently concurrent with obesity, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis), gastrointestinal tract diseases, and chronic diseases of the lung and kidney. Irrational treatment of OA in the presence of comorbidity and without considering characteristics of drug interactions leads to a pronounced increase in the number of adverse reactions (ARs) and to aggravation of the course of all concomitant diseases. From this point of view, therapy seems to be relevant when the latter involves drugs that have both symptom- and structure-modifying properties and have a high safety profile.Objective: to compare the safety of alternating and standard treatment regimens with Alflutop® in patients with knee OA.Patients and methods. 130 patients were enrolled in the trial who had Kellgren-Lawrence Grade II–III primary tibiofemoral knee OA with pain intensity on walking ≥40 mm on a visual analogue scale and who needed to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (≥30 days in the previous 3 months). The patients were randomized into two groups: Group 1 was prescribed Alflutop® 1.0 ml intramuscularly (IM) daily for 20 days (a standard regimen); Group 2 was given 2 ml IM every other day (a total of 10 injections) (an alternating regimen). The duration of follow-up was 14 weeks. The safety of Alflutop® was evaluated by the incidence of ARs and serious ARs (SARs) varying in severity according to medical records, laboratory tests, physical examination, assessment of a patient' vital signs, and electrocardiography (ECG). The patients were examined at the beginning, at the end, and 1 month after therapy.Results and discussion. No SARs were recorded during the study period and follow-up. There were 10 ARs in the group of patients receiving Alflutop® in the standard regimen and 19 ARs in the other group (the alternating regimen). All ARs corresponded to mild and moderate severity, were unassociated with the test drug, and resolved by the end of the follow-up. 12-lead ECG identified only clinically insignificant abnormalities in the patients of both groups. Patients without DM displayed no clinically significant increase in glucose levels. Those with DM had no increased glycemia tendency. Biochemical studies in both groups revealed only clinically insignificant abnormalities, the frequency of which was insignificant.Conclusion. This study has confirmed the comparable high safety of Alflutop® in both standard and alternative therapy regimens. It has also shown that the drug has a good safety profile and can be recommended for wide clinical application in any use regimen: 1 ml daily (a total of 20 injections) or 2 ml every other day (a total of 10 injections).

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system.The main symptoms of osteoarthritis are pain, stiffness, joint swelling. According to epidemiological studies, about one-third of the chronic moderate and severe pain is associated with OA. Currently, OA is considered as a multifactorial disease resulting from the interaction of various genetic, biological, mechanical, and metabolic factors. Inflammation plays a central role in development and progression of ОА. In patients with OA, histological studies of the synovial membrane detected signs of chronic inflammation. The level of some proinflammatory cytokines may increased and the level of anti-inflammatory cytokines may decreased in blood serum, synovial fluid and joint tissue. Also, adaptive immune cell responses are detected in the joint tissues in patients of OA. Due to its high effectiveness, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used in OA. Oral or local forms of NSAIDs are the drugs of choice in the initial stages of therapy in all guidelines. Etoricoxib is a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and is used for the treatment of OA and other rheumatic diseases. The article discusses the use of etoricoxib in patients with OA.

Erosive osteoarthritis (EOA) of the hand is an osteoarthritis (OA) phenotype that is characterized by central and marginal erosions of the articular surfaces in the distal and proximal interphalangeal (DIP and PIP) joints and in some cases by a fairly aggressive course with obvious pain syndrome and a high level of functional impairment. Diagnostic criteria and management tactics for EOA patients are still under investigation.Objective: to evaluate the nature of the changes detected by hand joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with EOA and non-erosive OA (NEOA) of the hand.Subjects and methods. Examinations were made in 61 females meeting the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria for hand OA; the patients' mean age was 66.34+5.79 years; the median age at disease onset was 50 [45; 56] years; the duration of pain was 15 [11; 20] years. All the patients underwent MRI of the second-fifth DIP, PIP, and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the right hand. The patients also filled out the AUSCAN questionnaire. EOA and NEOA were detected in 30 and 31 patients, respectively.Results and discussion. The patients with EOA and those with NEOA were matched for gender, age, and disease duration. The DIP joints in patients with EOA were found to have significantly more frequently and a greater number of large osteophytes (OPs), (53 and 16%, respectively), joint space narrowing (JSN) (73 and 35%), degenerative collateral ligament changes (DCLCs) (93 and 55%), subluxations (47 and 13%), and bone marrow edema (BME) (57 and 19%) than in those with NEOA. Synovitides and subchondral cysts occurred with approximately the same frequency in EOA and NEOA. The PIP joints in patients with EOA significantly more frequently showed BME (37%) and DCLCs (97%) than in those with NEOA. Subluxations in the PIP joint of the right hand were encountered exclusively in patients with EOA. Their incidence was 17%. Degenerative symptoms (small, less often moderate sizes of OPs, JSN, and DCLCs) were identified with approximately the same frequency in both groups (p>0.05). The PIP joints in patients with EOA were significantly more often found to have BME (53 and 26%, respectively; (p0.05). Large OPs in the PIP joint were found relatively rarely. Subluxations in the PIP joints were undetected in both groups.Conclusion. The symptoms of active inflammation are predominant and degenerative changes are more pronounced in patients with EOA unlike those with NEOA. Articular surface defects in the PIP joints in patients with hand OA differ from erosions in those with rheumatoid arthritis. These CDs in EOA are much more common than those in NEOA; however, the nature of their occurrence is unclear; therefore, the patients in whom they have been found need dynamic monitoring.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common diseases of the musculoskeletal system in the world. Some researchers call the small joints of the hands as being one of the most common sites of involvement in OA. Its most severe phenotype is considered to be inflammatory, or erosive, OA (EOA). Nevertheless, the radiographic pattern of this disease has not yet been sufficiently studied, and whether EOA is an independent form of OA, a regular later stage of the disease or an individual nosological entity, has not yet been resolved.Objective: to assess the location, frequency, and severity of radiographic symptoms and pain in patients with EOA and non-erosive OA (NEOA), to study the involvement of carpometacarpal (CMC), wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and radiocarpal (RC) joints in the pathological process in patients with EOA and NEOA of the hands.Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 64 women with hand OA who met the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) OA criteria. Hand joint images in the anteroposterior projection were first performed in all the patients. Each patient completed the AUSCAN questionnaire. The images were described according to the Kellgren and Lawrence classification. The mean age of the patients was 65.28+6.82 years; the age at onset of the disease was 48.81+7.73 years; its median OA duration was 15.0 [10.0; 19.5] years. According to the presence of erosions in the interphalangeal joints (IPJ) of the hand, the patients were divided into two groups: 1) EOA (n=23); 2) NEOA (n=37). Both groups were matched for age and disease duration (the mean age of patients with EOA was 68+6.15 years, the mean disease duration was 18.34+7.11 years; these in the NEOA group were 65.13+5.43 and 16.56+8.4 years, respectively). For age matching, 4 patients were excluded from Group 2.Results and discussion. Kellgren and Lawrence Stage II hand OA was detected most frequently (49%) and the most common radiographic symptoms of OA in the distal IPJ (DIPJ), proximal IPJ (PIPJ) and MCP joints were joint space narrowing (JSN) (100%, 100%, and 95%, respectively) and osteophytes (OPs) (88%, 70%, and 45% respectively). The least common conditions were subchondral osteosclerosis (SCOS) (5%), erosions (8%), and subluxations (3%) in the MCP joints, as well as subluxations in the PIPJ (6%). In the wrist, the most frequent sites of involvement was first CMCJ and scaphoid-trapezium-trapezoid joint (STTJ); their JSN was identified in 86 and 69% of patients, respectively; OPs were found respectively in 81 and 50% of cases. Changes in the RC joint (RCJ) were least common.EOA of the DIPJ and PIPJ was found in 15 (23%) patients with radiographic changes corresponding to Stages III—IV OA of the hand and in 8 (12%) patients with Stage II according to the Kellgren and Lawrence classification. The DIPJ in EOA versus NEOA showed significantly higher frequency of OPs (100 and 78%), SCOS (74 and 11%), cysts (61 and 24%), and subluxations (43 and 14%); the PIPJ — SCOS (43 and 5%), cysts (52 and 27%), and subluxations (17 and 0%; p

Chronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) is a serious health and social problem and one of the major causes of disability and significantly lower quality of life of persons in the present-day population. The development of effective methods for treating CNSLBP requires the joint efforts of the representatives of various medical specialties: therapists, rheumatologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, and rehabilitation therapists. Osteoarthritis of the facet and sacroiliac joints should be considered as one of the common causes of CNSLBP. The autors consider the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations, diagnostic problems of this pathology, as well as various approaches to its treatment. Based on their own experience and analysis of the data available in the literature, the authors defined a number of provisions that can later be used to formulate recommendations for the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with CNSLBP.

Standard radiography in direct projection is the “gold standard” in the diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis (HOA). However, the currently clinically most severe “erosive” or “inflammatory” phenotype of HOA is characterized by the presence of inflammatory symptoms such as bone marrow lession (BML), synovitis and tenosinovitis, which are not visible on the radiograph by the nature of the study due to the low optical density. In addition, X-ray examination is planar and has no possibility of multiplanar visualization. This dictated the need to search for a more informative visualization technique in HOA.Aim – to compare the sensitivity and specificity of standard radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in determining the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) of the distal interphalangeal (DIP), proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of the right hand; to determine the indications for the appointment of MRI in patients with HOA.Materials and methods. The study included 64 women with clinically verified diagnosis of HOA according to ask criteria. For the first time, X-rays of the joints of the right hand in the anterior-posterior projection and MRI were performed for each of them. Each patient completed the AUSCAN questionnaire. X-rays were described according to the Kellgren and Lawrence systems, magnetic resonance imaging was analyzed according to the modified OHOA system. The sensitivity and specificity of the methods were compared based on the detection of 4 symptoms detected by radiography and MRI: joint space narrowing (JSN), osteophytes (OP), erosions and subluxations. The average age of the patients was 65.28±6.82 years, the age of onset was 48.81±7.73 years, the duration of the disease was 15.0 (10.0–19.5) years.Results. Both methods showed approximately equal identification JSN symptom in DIP and PIP, 95% definition JSN in MCP. OP were detected in 88% of patients in DIP according to radiography and in 95% – using MRI (p>0.05). In PIP OP were observed in 70% of patients on radiographs and in 86% on magnetic resonance imaging, in MCP – in 45% and 66% of cases, respectively. Erosion in DIP were found in 41% of patients according to MRI and 34% as a result of X-ray examination, in PIP – in 27% and 13% of cases, in MCP – in 60% and 8% of cases, respectively. Subluxations were determined in DIP 23% on radiographs in 31% of cases by MRI, in PIP – in 8% and 6% (p>0.05), in MCP subluxations almost never met – in 3% of cases by conventional radiography.Conclusions. MRI in HOA can be used in the detection of erosive process, differential diagnosis with other diseases of the joints, determination of inflammatory changes in the hands and assessment of their severity, but has no significant advantages over standard radiography in determining the symptoms of degenerative-dystrophic nature (JSN and OP). Subluxations of the MCP joints are not typical for the HOA.

The paper presents the results of the Osteoarthritis (OA) Expert Council held on September 8, 2019, which was attended by Russian and foreign specialists. The experts considered pharmacological treatment options for OA. The expert meeting resolution states that the treatment of patients with OA should be based on an individual assessment of the patient and on a modern evidence base of therapy efficacy.Treatment of patients with OA is based on the principles of evidence-based medicine that requires an integrated approach and the need of SYSADOAs prescription. Combined drugs with therapeutic dosages of chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine in the early stages of the disease are available as basic agents. The place of paracetamol in the anesthetic therapy algorithm in OA needs to be clarified. It is also noted that when choosing nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for OA treatment, it is important to take into account individual patient characteristics and the presence of comorbidities.

Using of more convenient drug regimens is one of the ways to increase patient adherence to treatment for osteoarthritis (OA).Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of Alflutop® in an alternating dosing regimen versus its standard administration to patients with knee OA. Patients and methods. The investigation included 130 randomized patients who had Kellgren—Lawrence Grade II—IIIprimary tibiofemoral knee OA with pain intensity on walking at least 40 mm on a visual analogue scale and needed to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (at least 30 days in the previous 3 months). The patients were divided into two groups: 1) those who received Alflutop® 2 ml intramuscularly (IM) every other day (a total of 10 injections); 2) those who used the drug 1.0 ml IM daily for 20 days. The duration of the investigation was 14 weeks. Results and discussion. Just on days 20/21 of treatment, the patients of both groups were recorded to have statistically significant reductions in knee pain on walking (p

Knee and hip joint pain is the first and most common symptom that forces a patient to visit the doctor. Osteoarthritis (OA) treatment is aimed «primarily» at managing symptoms of the disease, i.e. reducing pain, improving the functional state of the joints, and finally at improving the patients’ quality of life. The Russian and international organizations have developed numerous guidelines for the treatment of OA, which include non-pharmacological and pharmacological methods, among which symptomatic slow-acting drugs are of special interest. These drugs are currently recommended to prescribe as the first-line drugs to treat OA. Analgesics and NSAIDs that rarely cause adverse effects, especially in older people and in patients with co-morbidities, who receive concomitant medications, are the most commonly prescribed medications for pain relief. This creates a problem when the drugs affect one another’s exposure and can limit the prescription of a range of drugs, which determines an increase in interest in other drugs called sustained-release symptomatic drugs, which are widely recognized in arthrology.The article presents the results of studies of Artra and Artra MSM Forte in patients with hip and knee OA, which were conducted in Russia.

The most common operation for knee osteoarthritis (OA) is total knee arthroplasty (TKA); however, the latter is associated with the development of severe complications. This was the reason for the revival of the interest of orthopedic traumatologists in high tibial osteotomy (HTO), the essence of which is to transfer the load away from the affected medial part of the knee joint (KJ) to the intact lateral one.Objective: to evaluate the medium- and long-term results of open-wedge (OW) HTO in primary and secondary I–III stage knee OA.Patients and methods. The Laboratory of Orthopedic Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, performed 10 OW HTOs in 9 patients in 2005 to 2009 and 21 more OW HTOs in 19 patients in 2014 to 2018 (a total of 31 operations). The male/female ratio was 2.5:1. The mean age of the patients was 57.6±12.5 years; the body mass index (BMI) was 28.5±3.6 kg/m2 ; the correction angle was 11.7±2.5°. Preoperative planning was performed using the Miniaci method; the X-ray stage of knee OA was evaluated according to the Kellgren–Lawrence classification. OW HTO was carried out. For assessment of its results, the investigators determined the degree of pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the KJ status by the Knee Society Score (KSS) scale. The results were assessed at one (n=31), 3.5±0.6 (n=28), and 8.5±1.3 (n=10) years.Results and discussion. There was a tendency to worsen surgical results over time. The mean VAS values for pain at 1, 3.5, and 8.5 years were as follows: 9.8±10.3; 21.2±16.2 and 38±15.5 mm, respectively. In the same periods, the KSS functional scores were 83.6±14.8, 85.2±12.6, and 80.5±14.2; the objective scores were 80.7±8.5, 75.2±12.7, and 67.8±16.3. There was a strong correlation between the severity of pain and the functional and objective KSS scores (-0.78, -0.81 years, and -0.91 at 1, 3.5, and 8.5 years, respectively; p

Osteoarthritis (OA) is currently considered as a heterogeneous disease that can be represented by different subtypes. It is the study of OA phenotypes that is one of the strategic areas for the development of researches on this nosological entity, which will further allow a personified approach to patient therapy and ensure the rational use of financial resources of health care.The paper describes in detail the current researches on this issue. It discusses attempts to identify different OA types according to demographic data (age, race, gender, etc.), comorbidity (including depression), nature of pain (intensity, pathophysiological mechanisms of its development), biochemical markers, genetic and biomechanical predictors, hormonal status in patients, and structural changes detected by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography, etc.

For the first time, the paper presents in detail the prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) and considers the predictors of disease development and progression. The clinical classification of OA and its place in the ICD-10 are described. The clinical presentation of the disease is characterized in detail according to the localization of the process. It is noted that there is a change in the understanding of OA as a classic model of nociceptive pain. The paper depicts clinical, laboratory, and instrumental methods for diagnosing the disease, as well as classification and diagnostic criteria; much attention is paid to the current principles of OA therapy according to the Russian clinical recommendations and the guidelines of the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common disease of the musculoskeletal system, which is characterized by persistent pain, joint dysfunction, and early disability. The incidence of OA has now increased, and, according to the data obtained by the V.A. Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology, amounts to about 13%, which is 5 times higher than official statistics. The major goals of OA treatment are aimed at reducing pain, improving the functional state of the joint, preventing the development of joint deformity, improving the quality of life of patients, and minimizing the side effects of pharmacotherapy. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections have been long used as a synovial fluid prosthesis; however, recently published studies have provided new data on the mechanisms of action of these drugs and the role of this method in the treatment of patients with OA. Numerous meta-analyses have shown that HA therapy does not substantially differ from placebo in tolerance, thereby ensuring significantly reduced pain and improved joint function. This review deals with some issues of intra-articular HA administration in patients with OA, with the mechanisms of action of HA preparations, with the problems of choosing a drug according to its source, molecular weight, administration methods, and the efficiency of the therapy compared to other drugs.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a heterogeneous disease with varying degrees of inflammatory responses, structural changes, functional insufficiency, and disease progression as a whole. Some OA phenotypes are characterized by a high local inflammatory response, persistent pain, persistent synovitis, and severe functional limitation. As a rule, the use of traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in these patients and the injection of glucocorticoids into the joint show no substantial effect. Taking into account the important role of inflammation and the involvement of immune responses in the pathogenesis of OA, the existence of its erosive forms, the use of some disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs could be a rational solution of the problem in the therapy of this disease.The paper reviews data on the efficiency and safety of using methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine in OA.

Many patients with osteoarthritis (OA) tend to have comorbidities. This tendency is more frequently observed to increase with age. One of the comorbidities is type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Due to the higher prevalence of coexistence of these two conditions, it has been suggested that T2DM-associated hyperglycemia may adversely affect joint tissues and increase OA severity. However, the molecular mechanisms in the development of DM in patients with OA remain unclear.Objective: to trace the dynamics of T2DM development in patients with OA at the level of the expression of genes associated with glucose metabolism, joint destruction, and general regulation of metabolic processes.Patients and methods. Three patients with OA were followed up for 4—6 years, including the year of onset of T2DM. The clinical condition of the patients was analyzed once a year. Total RNA was annually isolated from their blood and used to determine the level of gene expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction.Results and discussion. The development of T2DM was shown to be accompanied by the increased expression of genes related to glycolysis, Krebs cycle, pentose phosphate pathway, matrix metalloproteinases and regulators of AMPKand mTOR metabolism. By contrast, the level of the hypoxia regulator HIF1a and hexosamine pathway genes was decreased.Conclusion. The occurrence of T2DM in the presence of OA is likely to be associated with the higher needs for cells for ATP energy and is accompanied by activation of the glucose assimilation pathways, as well as by the increased expression of the genes responsible for extracellular matrix destruction. This may be caused by impaired protein glycosylation due to inhibition of the hexosamine pathway.

The article discusses the possibilities and search for the optimal concept of diagnosis of hand osteoarthritis (OA). The data of numerous studies with focus on the comparison of sensitivity and specificity of the main techniques in this type of pathology – standard radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are presented. Determination of the earliest symptoms of OA allows to predict the development of the disease and begin its therapy. The joint space narrowing due to the loss of articular cartilage is the earliest radiological symptom of OA, which is observed in the advanced stage of the disease. MRI, unlike radiography, makes it possible to visualize the articular cartilage, fluid in the joint cavity, bone marrow edema and soft tissues, but it is more expensive and time-consuming method. At present the main difficulty lies in the absence of a standardized system for assessing the MRI hand OA manifestations, as well as insufficient number of investigations in this area.

Osteoarthritis (OA) belongs to diseases with high comorbidity and is most frequently concurrent with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis), obesity, and diabetes mellitus. The paper deals with the use of delayed-release symptomatic medications in the treatment of patients with OA and comorbidity. It reviews clinical trials of the efficacy and safety of diacerein in OA patients and its effect on comorbidity. The paper discusses the possibility of using diacerein as an alternative to traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with contraindications to the latter.

Opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) is a surgical treatment option for osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee with a predominant lesion of its medial segment, which can restore the mechanical axis of the lower limb, transfer load from affected medial to intact lateral part of knee joint, and thus slow OA progression, reduce or even abolish pain, prolong the function of the patient’s own knee joint, and delay total knee arthroplasty. Like any surgical intervention, OWHTO can be responsible for common, local, and specific surgical complicationsObjective: to investigate complications from OWHTO and to determine the impact of the design of short spacer plates, bone graft materials and/or bone substitutes, as well as age, body weight and wedge angle correction on the development of complications in patients undergoing this surgery.Subjects and methods. Twenty-eight OWHTOs were performed in 26 patients in 2003 to 2016. The male and female ratio was approximately 2:1. The patients’ mean age was 58.1±11.24 years; body mass index, 28.56±3.61 kg/m2; correction angle, 11.8±2.4°. Fixation was carried out using short spacer plates of three different designs: Puddu plate I, II, and Osteomed. Bone grafting was performed applying an iliac wing autograft or a biodegradable bone substitute (β-tricalcium phosphate) as rectangular blocks, or Inject. Bone grafting was not done when the wedge size was

The paper describes a clinical case of adverse reaction (AR) to leflunomide (LEF) in a female patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In 2007 to 2017, the female patient with a reliable diagnosis of RA took LEF (Arava) at a dose of 20 mg/day, which showed a good clinical effect. However, the patient developed atypical bone cysts in the hands, feet, right elbow, and left heel 10 years after start of therapy. The differential diagnosis with deep mycosis, tuberculosis, cancer pathology, endocrine system disease, and AR to the long-term use of LEF was made to clarify the nature of bone cysts.

Objective: the development and verification of a scale for identifying patients at high risk of osteoarthritis (OA).Material and methods. The results of the analysis of a sample of patients aged 35–90 years from the database of the Institute of Trace Elements (n=3440), which included information on clinical and anamnestic, diagnostic parameters and pharmacotherapy of patients, including patients with OA (n=107), are presented. To analyze information about patients, modern methods of data analysis proposed within the topological theory of pattern recognition were used.Results. Based on the analysis of the sample, a 100-point scale of 27 points was developed which allows to identify patients at high risk of OA (sensitivity 88%, specificity 100%). For patients with high scores on the scale, a kind of “preemptive” prescription of symptomatic slowacting drugs for osteoarthritis (SySADOA) based on highly purified substances of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and glucosamine sulfate (GS) is promising. The evidence for CS/GS is extensive and has been reviewed previously.Conclusion. Early adoption of preventive measures (including the usage of SySADOA – CS/GS) in patients with a high score on the developed scale may reduce the risk of OA.

Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Chondroguard® in the combined (intra-articular (IA) + intramuscular (IM)) and IM injection in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Patients and methods. The study enrolled 150 patients with knee OA who were divided into two groups with 75 patients in each group. Group 1 received the drug (100 mg/ml) intramuscularly: 25 injections every other day, the first three injections at a dose of 100 mg, the fourth injection was started with a dose of 200 mg. Group 2 had five IA injections into the target joint at a daily dose of 200 mg with an interval of 3 days between injections, then 16 IM injections at 200 mg every other day. All the patients were prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as meloxicam 15 mg. To determine the efficiency of treatment, the investigators estimated the following parameters: pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS), the total WOMAC index and its components (pain, stiffness, and functional insufficiency), sensory and affective-emotional pain characteristics (for the target joint) according to McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) scores. Clinical and biochemical blood tests, clinical urinalysis, coagulogram, and electrocardiography were performed in all the patients at the beginning and the end of the study.Results and discussion. Comparison of two Chondroguard® regimens showed that by the end of treatment, the pain intensity on VAS was significantly lower in Group 2 (IA + IM administration) than in Group 1 (16.81±13.49 and 21.88±13.24, respectively; p

In 2015, the experts from various medical associations of Russia elaborated the clinical guidelines “Rational use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in clinical practice”. These guidelines were drawn up to improve the use of NSAIDs, our country’s most popular agents to treat pain in acute and chronic diseases. The main purpose of this paper was to reduce the frequency of potentially dangerous class-specific adverse events (AE) that may arise from the use of NSAIDs. To do this, the authors proposed a NSAID choice algorithm based on the assessment of risk factors for AE, the individual characteristics of various representatives of this drug group, and the possibility of prevention of AE.Since then, new data on the efficacy and safety of NSAIDs have been obtained. This has necessitated the revision and addition of a number of provisions in the 2015 guidelines. It seems that the new version of the guidelines, which has been drawn up based on the analysis of a large number of clinical and epidemiological studies, their meta-analysis, by taking into account the clinical experience and opinion of the world’s leading experts, presents more fully the main aspects of the use of NSAIDs in real clinical practice.The guidelines are intended for physicians of all specialties.

Objective: to investigate the effect of diacerein (Diaflex) on some components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Subjects and methods. The multicenter open-label prospective study covered 55 patients aged 45 to 74 years with Kellgren–Lawrence Stage II–III knee OA and MS, with a pain intensity of >40 mm on a visual analogue scale, and with a disease duration of 1 to 30 years. The therapy duration was 6 months: Diaflex 50 mg/day for one month, then 50 mg twice daily for 5 months; the patients were followed up for the succeeding 3 months. During each visit, the efficiency and safety of treatment were evaluated; moreover, blood biochemical values were taken into account at the beginning and at the end of therapy.Results and discussion. There was a statistically significant improvement in WOMAC index (all its components and total value) and quality of life using EQ-5D in the first month of therapy and throughout the follow-up. Analysis based on the OMERACT-OARSI criteria indicated high treatment response rates in 92.5% of the patients at the end of therapy and in 92.2% three months after its completion. The body mass index and levels of low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, glucose, and uric acid significantly decreased during treatment. Adverse events were detected in a small number (5.5%) of cases.Conclusion. Diaflex is an effective and safe drug in the treatment of knee OA in patients with MS. During therapy, there is a rapid and considerable reduction in pain and stiffness and an improvement in the functional state. In addition, the pleiotropic effects of the drug make it possible not only to effectively reduce weight, but also perhaps to improve the course of MS-associated conditions by the observed corrections of metabolic disturbances.