關節內注射玻尿酸Sodium Hyaluronate (Artz)治療退化性膝關節炎－三年的臨床經驗

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the clinical benefit of intra-articular injection with hyaluronate in current clinical practice in Taiwan. Material and Methods: A retrospective study of all patients with osteoarthritis of the knee treated with hyaluronate at Rheumatology outpatient clinic in Taipei Medical University Hospital over a period of 3 years from October 1999 to October 2002. Results: A total 4720 injections were performed in 363 patients involved 614 knees. The overall response and the change of activity level were judged better or much better for 72.7% and 72.1% of the treated knees after the first course of treatment (5 weekly injections), and 80.9 and 80.0% after 2nd course. The mean time elapsing between the first and 2nd course is 7.8 ± 4.0 months. Local adverse events were observed in 22 patients (24 knees), with an overall rate 0.8% adverse events per injection, 3.9% per joint, and 6.1% per patient. No systemic adverse events were noted in any patient. The adverse events were characterized by transient pain at site of injection. The incidence of adverse events were considered to be related to the injection technique. Conclusion: Intra-articular injection with hyaluronate (Artz) provided good clinical benefits and an acceptable safety profiles in current clinical practice.