Condroitín sulfato reduce la pérdida del cartílago articular y las lesiones en el hueso subcondral

The management of osteoarthritis (OA) is a major challenge. Most published recommendations aim to control OA symptoms, i.e. reduce pain and improve joint function. However, the main aim of the treatment of OA is to halt or delay disease progression. In line with this aim, the various therapies should help to preserve articular structure by controlling cartilage degradation, synovitis and sclerosis of subchondral bone, the three tissues involved in the physiopathology of OA. This aim should be kept in mind both in the development of future treatments and in currently available drugs. Chondroitin sulfate is a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA). There is, however, an increasing body of evidence showing the effect of disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOAD), i.e. slow-acting drugs for OA able to modify structure. This review aims to synthesize the information on the protective effect of chondroitin sulfate on cartilage, as well as its ability to preserve the structure of subchondral bone.