Treatment Of Osteoarthritis In Dogs Research Articles

Examination of synovial fluid and serum following intravenous injections of hyaluronan for the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs

A randomized, blinded, prospective clinical trial was performed to determine the effects of intravenous (i.v.) administration of hyaluronan sodium (HA) on serum glycosaminoglycans (GAG) concentrations, synovial fluid (SF) hyaluronan concentrations and viscosity in dogs treated for unilateral rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament. Twenty-two dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy were used in this study. Synovial fluid from both stifles and serum were collected prior to surgery and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks following surgery. Dogs received either 1.0 ml (10 mg) of sodium hyaluronate (treatment group 1; n = 10) or equal volume of 0.9% NaCl (treatment group 2; n = 12), i.v. immediately, 2 and 4 weeks following surgery. Synovial fluid viscosity was evaluated using a magnetically driven, acoustically tracked, translating-ball rheometer. Synovial fluid HA disaccharide content was measured by fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. Serum GAG concentrations were measured by alcian blue spectrophotometric assay. Data were analyzed using a Wilcoxon sign rank test (p < 0.05). Mean +/- SD viscosity (cP) was significantly higher (p = 0.011) in SF obtained from the intact stifle (450 +/- 604.1) than injured (54.8 +/- 60.8) prior to surgery. Mean +/- SD HA concentrations (ug/ml) were significantly higher (p = 0.02) in synovial fluid obtained from the injured stifles (281.4 +/- 145.9) than intact stifles (141.6 +/- 132.5). No significant difference was noted within or between treatment groups in SF viscosity, HA concentrations, or serum GAG concentrations at any time following surgery. Stifles with cranial cruciate ligament insufficiency had significant alterations in SF viscosity and HA concentrations.

Abstracts

Treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs; Read, R. A., Cullis‐Hill, D. &amp; Jones, M. P. (1996) Journal of Small Animal Practice 37, 108Determination of plasma pepsinogen; Scott, I., Stear, M. J. &amp; McKellar, Q. A. (1995) Research in Veterinary Science 59, 234Treatment of traumatic shock in dogs; Schertel, E. R., Allen, D. A., Muir, W. W. &amp; Hansen, B. D. (1996) Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 208, 366

Randomized, controlled trial of the efficacy of carprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, in the treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs

Summary Seventy dogs were included in a randomized, controlled, multicenter trial to test the efficacy of carprofen (2.2 mg/kg of body weight, PO, q 12 h) for relief of clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis. Thirty-six dogs received carprofen, and 34 received a placebo. Response of the dogs was evaluated by comparing results of force plate examination and a graded lameness examination performed before and immediately after 2 weeks of treatment, and by obtaining a subjective assessment of the dog's posttreatment condition from owners and participating veterinarians. A physical examination, CBC, serum biochemical analyses, urinalysis, and fecal occult blood test were performed before and after treatment to monitor safety. For force plate evaluation, the odds ratio was 3.3, meaning that a dog treated with carprofen was 3.3 times more likely to have a positive response than was a dog treated with the placebo. For evaluation by a veterinarian, the odds ratio was 3.5, and for owner evaluation, the odds ratio was 4.2. Institution where dogs were treated did not have a significant effect on results. A variety of reactions that may have been related to the medication (placebo or carprofen) were recorded; however, none were considered serious. Serum alanine aminotransferase activity was high in 3 dogs (2 that received placebo and 1 that received carprofen) at the conclusion of treatment; none of the 3 dogs were clinically ill. Ten dogs © that received placebo and 5 that received carprofen) had negative pretreatment and positive posttreatment fecal occult blood test results.

Diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis in dogs

Osteoarthritis (also known as osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease) is a term covering a broad spectrum of poorly understood joint disorders. Although it is preferable to think of osteoarthritis as a disease process with a variety of initiating factors, it may, for the purposes of this article, be defined as a disorder of synovial joints characterised by aberrant repair and eventual degeneration of articular cartilage and also by the formation of new bone at the articular margins, sclerosis of subchondral bone and variable low grade synovial inflammation. While the apophyseal joints of the spine can also be affected, the association between osteoarthritis of these joints, disc disease and the clinical signs is unclear. Discussion will, therefore, be limited to the joints of the appendicular skeleton.