Insights in osteoarthritis from the perspectives of evidence-based medicine and authors' own experience

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic heterogenic progressive disease involving the deterioration of the cartilage tissue within joints, bone remodeling and the development of osteophytes that cause such clinical manifestations as pain, stiffness, edema and reduced joint function. The review elucidates modern views on the pathogenesis of OA and the up-to-date approaches to its diagnostics and treatment. Today, the emphasis is made on relieving pain and improving the quality of life of patients with OA. Symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA) are used in OA clinical practice. The drugs of this class have beneficial effects on OA symptoms and their long-term use exerts disease-modifying action. SYSADOA are recommended for use as the first-line therapy and the treatment of choice in OA. Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is considered as a SYSADOA drug whose effectiveness has been proven in multiple clinical trials. CS is included in the EULAR recommendations for the treatment of patients with OA. The use of chondroitin has been shown to reduce pain and improve mobility of the affected joints. The authors present a clinical report of CS beneficial effects in a patient with OA. KEYWORDS: osteoarthritis, pathogenesis, treatment, quality of life, SYSADOA, chondroitin sulfate. FOR CITATION: Zhugrova E.S., Belyaeva I.B., Samigullina R.R. Insights in osteoarthritis from the perspectives of evidence-based medicine and authors' own experience. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2023;7(3):167–173 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2023-7-3-167-173.