[Reduction of arthrosis associated knee pain through a single intra-articular injection of synthetic hyaluronic acid]

Systematic clinical evidence review of NASHA (Durolane hyaluronic acid) for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Background

Pain and limitations in joint mobility associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA) are clinically challenging to manage, and advanced progression of disease can often lead to total knee arthroplasty. Intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA), also referred to as viscosupplementation, is a non-surgical treatment approach for OA, the effectiveness of which may depend on the HA composition, and the length of time over which it resides in the joint. One of the available options for such therapies includes NASHA (Durolane HA), a non-animal, biofermentation-derived product, which is manufactured using a process that stabilizes the HA molecules to slow down their rate of degradation and produce a unique formulation with a terminal half-life of ~1 month. The objectives of the current review were to assess, in patients with OA of the knee, the efficacy and safety of intra-articular treatment with NASHA relative to control (saline) injections, other HA products, and other injectables (corticosteroids, platelet-rich plasma, mesenchymal stem cells).

Methods

This systematic evidence review examines patient outcomes following NASHA treatment as described in published data from studies conducted in subjects with knee OA. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses-compliant literature search strategy yielded 11 eligible clinical studies with a variety of comparator arms. Outcomes assessed at various time points following intra-articular treatment included measures of pain, function, quality of life, and incidence of treatment-related adverse events (AEs).

Results

The available evidence reported for the clinical studies assessed demonstrates sustained and effective relief of knee OA symptoms following a single injection of NASHA. In addition, an excellent biocompatibility profile is observed for NASHA as an intra-articular therapy for OA, as reflected by the low rate of AEs associated with treatment.

Conclusion

Treatment with NASHA is an effective and safe single-injection procedure, which can be beneficial in the clinical management of knee OA.

A randomized saline-controlled trial of NASHA hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE

NASHA hyaluronic acid is administered as a single intra-articular injection to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA). In a previous trial, post-hoc analysis indicated that NASHA provides significantly greater pain relief than saline in patients with OA confined to the study knee. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of NASHA in patients with unilateral knee OA.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, saline-controlled trial. All patients had knee OA confirmed by American College of Rheumatology criteria and a WOMAC pain score of 7-17 in the study knee, but no pain in the previous 3 months in the non-study knee. Treatment comprised a single intra-articular injection of NASHA or saline control. The follow-up period was 6 weeks.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01806207.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary efficacy endpoint was the responder rate, defined as the percentage of patients with ≥40% improvement from baseline in WOMAC pain score and an absolute improvement of ≥5 points.

RESULTS

A total of 218 patients received study treatment (NASHA: 108, saline: 110). In the main intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis, no statistically significant difference in responder rate was found between the two groups at 6 weeks (NASHA: 30.6%; saline: 26.4%). A post-hoc subgroup analysis of patients without clinical effusion in the study knee at baseline showed a significantly higher 6 week responder rate with NASHA than with saline: 40.6% versus 19.7% (p = 0.0084). A total of 68 adverse events were reported among 44 patients in the NASHA group, compared with 69 adverse events among 44 patients in the saline group. The main weakness of the study was the short, 6 week follow-up duration. In addition, image guidance was not used to ensure injection as intended into the intra-articular space.

CONCLUSIONS

Single-injection NASHA was well tolerated and, although there was no significant benefit versus saline control in the primary analysis, post-hoc analysis showed a statistically significant improvement in pain relief at 6 weeks among patients without clinical effusion at baseline.

[Efficacy and safety of a single intra-articular injection of 2% hyaluronic acid plus mannitol in knee osteoarthritis over a 6-month period]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single intra-articular injection of 2% hyaluronic acid (HA)+mannitol in symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Pilot, multicentre, open, non-comparative study performed in eighty patients with painful KOA, of whom 79 completed the study. They received one injection of 2ml of 2% HA+0.5% mannitol (Day 0) and were followed-up for 6 months. On Days 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180, pain and joint function were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and WOMAC index. Efficacy and safety by investigator and patient, and rescue medication, as an indirect measure of pain, were also recorded.

RESULTS

A significant reduction in joint pain, stiffness and functional disability compared with baseline was observed at every follow-up visit (P<.001). Joint function improved by 38.7% on Day 30, reaching 47.5% on Day 180. Rescue medication use decreased from 58.2% at baseline to 2.5% on Day 90, increasing in the last visits. Efficacy and safety were positively evaluated by investigators and patients. No serious adverse events were observed. Mild side effects were reported in 4 patients (local pain and swelling in the infiltration area).

DISCUSSION

There is evidence that repeated intra-articular injections of HA improve symptoms in KOA. However, studies with a single injection of HA have shown mixed results. This study demonstrates that one single intra-articular injection of non-cross-linked HA reduces joint pain and increases function in patients with KOA over a period of at least 6 months.

Evaluation of long-term antinociceptive properties of stabilized hyaluronic acid preparation (NASHA) in an animal model of repetitive joint pain

Introduction

Clinical trials provided controversial results on whether the injection of hyaluronan preparations into osteoarthritic joints reduces pain. Problems of clinical studies may be the substantial placebo effects of intra-articular injections, different severity and rate of progression of the disease and others. We hypothesize that the use of preclinical pain models may help to clarify whether a certain hyaluronan exerts antinociceptive effects upon intra-articular injection. In the present study we tested in the bradykinin/prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) model primarily the putative antinociceptive effect of stabilized hyaluronic acid from a non animal source (NASHA), a stabilized hyaluronic acid based gel for intra-articular treatment of OA. We established a dose-response relationship for NASHA and we compared NASHA to other hyaluronans with different formulations that are in clinical use.

Methods

To induce transient joint pain episodes bradykinin and PGE₂ were repetitively administered intra-articularly and unilaterally into rat knee joints during short anaesthesia. After establishment of the predrug nociceptive responses, a single intra-articular injection of saline or NASHA at different concentrations was administered and pain responses to further bradykinin/PGE₂ injections were monitored up to 56 days after NASHA. Furthermore, the obtained effective dose was compared to clinically defined concentrations of Hylan GF20 and sodium hyaluronate. The primary outcome measures were primary mechanical hyperalgesia at the knee joint and pain-induced weight bearing.

Results

On day 1 after injection, all tested hyaluronan preparations showed an antinociceptive effect >50% compared to saline. Single injections of higher doses of NASHA (50, 75 and 100 μl) were antinociceptive up to 56 days. When injection volumes in rat knee joints were adapted to clinical injection volumes in humans, the antinociceptive effects of the cross-linked NASHA and Hylan GF20 had a longer duration than that of the non cross-linked sodium hyaluronate (with a slightly better effect of NASHA than Hylan GF20).

Conclusions

In the bradykinin/PGE₂ model of joint pain a single injection of all hyaluronan preparations provided significant antinociceptive effects compared to saline. It appeared that the duration of the antinociceptive effect of the cross-linked hyaluronan preparations NASHA and Hylan GF20 was more prolonged. In addition, the gel beads structure allowing only a slow release of hyaluronic acid (NASHA) may even enhance this prolonged antinociceptive effect.