A new study published in the American journal “Arthroscopy” compared the effectiveness of injections of biologic agents combined with hyaluronic acid, against hyaluronic acid injections alone in knee osteoarthritis. The study was carried out in accordance with the guidelines for systematic reviews (systematic review) and meta-analyses (meta-analysis). Randomised trials that directly compared the combined use of biologic agents with hyaluronic acid against the use of hyaluronic acid alone were examined. The PubMed, Scopus and Cochrane central databases were searched up to May 2020.
Four studies were identified, with a total of 377 patients with Kellgren Lawrence stage I to IV knee osteoarthritis. The follow-up period was twelve months in three studies and six months in one. The patients who received biologic agents combined with hyaluronic acid showed significantly greater improvement than those who received hyaluronic acid alone, according to their visual analogue scale (visual analogue scale) scores.
The authors concluded that symptomatic patients with knee osteoarthritis who received an injection of biologic agents combined with hyaluronic acid showed greater improvement in pain and in function than patients who received hyaluronic acid alone, and who were assessed at three, six and twelve months. This study shows encouraging evidence for the use of biologic agents combined with hyaluronic acid.
Source: “Arthroscopy”, April 2021