Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injection vs. atorvastatin; which treatment is more effective in controlling symptoms of knee osteoarthritis? A clinical trial.

Background: Knee osteoarthritis is a disease of the elderly population. Two of the widely used treatment options for knee osteoarthritis is administration of oral atorvastatin and intra articular hyaluronic acid. This study was designed to compare the effects of oral atorvastatin and intra articular Hyaluronic acid in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Method: This study was conducted under the approval of Mashhad University of medical sciences ethic committee. Seventy patients with knee OA were divided randomly into two groups; thirty five subjects were given intra articular Hyaluronic acid injections weekly for three weeks and 35 were given atorvastatin 40 milligrams orally daily for 6 months. WOMAC questioner was filled for each patient at the beginning of the study and every month up to 6 months. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 16.

Results: Enrolled subjects were consisted of 28 males (40%) and 42 females (60%), and their mean age was 57.9±1.1 years. Study groups were similar regarding gender and age distribution (P=0.626, P=0.710, respectively) significant difference between groups regarding sex (P=0.626). Mean age of patients was 57.9±1.1 years. Groups mean age did not differ significantly (P=0.710). According to WOMAC questionnaire, pain score in the second month after injection was significantly lower in the Hyaluronic acid group compared with atorvastatin (P<0.001). Function score in the second month after injection was significantly lower in the Hyaluronic acid group compared with atorvastatin (P<0.001). These differences were absent in the following months.

Conclusion: Compared to atorvastatin group, significant improvements in pain symptoms and physical function of knee OA patients were observed in intra articular Hyaluronic acid treatment group in the second month after treatment. But this improvement did not last through the following months.