qMRI Reveals Disease-Modifying Effects of Chondroitin Sulfate in Knee Osteoarthritis

A group of Canadian researchers published findings from a clinical trial in which they confirmed, for the first time, using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI), the disease-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate, a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis (SYSADOA).

This clinical trial, published March 1, 2011, in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (impact factor 8.111), explored the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS) treatment on cartilage volume loss, subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs), and synovitis in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). "This study focused on quantifying over time by MRI the main structural changes observed in the cartilage, bone and synovial membrane,” stated Jean-Pierre Pelletier, MD, professor of medicine and head of the osteoarthritis research unit at the University of Montreal Hospital Research Center (Canada).

The investigator stated that after only six months of treatment with CS, patients showed a considerable decrease in loss of articular cartilage as compared to the placebo group, and for the first time, a significant reduction in the progression of BMLs by 12 months. According to Prof. Pelletier, these data highlight not only the importance of the interrelationship between cartilage and subchondral bone in OA, but also its potential role in the disease process and response to treatment with SYSADOAs.

Prof. Pelletier concluded that, "CS is a safe drug with an overall positive effect on OA, significantly reducing the volume of cartilage loss in knee OA, and providing for the first time new information on its positive effect in vivo on other structural changes observed in this disease.”

Prof. Pelletier commented that the clinical trial results prove that CS is able to slow the progression of OA; however, this does not mean it is able to cure. "The cure involves the regression of all lesions related to OA,” he noted, "and that's not the case. Chondroitin sulfate slows the progression of the disease. This is an important finding as a decrease in the rate of progression of cartilage loss in knee OA patients, as seen by MRI, could potentially reduce the need for total knee replacement a phenomenon that has been observed in other MRI clinical studies.”

Prof. Pelletier reported that the results of this pilot MRI study are very positive and encouraging. Given the validated efficacy and safety of the product, it represents a most valuable option for OA patients. Although he noted, "it is important that patients are provided with highly purified pharmaceutical grade CS, the one used in this study, as this is the only one that can guarantee such efficacy and specifically, safety results.”

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University of Montreal Hospital Research Center