Evaluation of intra-articular hyaluronan, sodium chondroitin sulfate and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine combination versus saline (0.9% NaCl) for osteoarthritis using an equine model.

A randomized blinded placebo controlled trial was conducted to assess the clinical, biochemical and histological effects of a hyaluronan, sodium chondroitin sulfate and N-acetyl-d-glucosamine combination (PG) administered through an intra-articular (IA) route for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) at the time of injury. OA was induced in one carpal joint of each of 16 horses. Horses were designated placebo or IA PG treated. All horses were treated with 125mg amikacin sulfate IA and 5mL physiological saline in the middle carpal joint bilaterally on study Days 0 (after induction of OA), 7, 14 and 28, except the OA affected joint of the IA PG horses, which received 5mL PG plus 125mg of amikacin sulfate on similar days. Evaluations included clinical and radiographic, synovial fluid analysis, gross and histological examinations, as well as histochemical and biochemical analyses.