New hormone drug in combination with steroids may be effective in treating OA

Patients with osteoarthritis (OA) often suffer from pain, joint inflammation and limitation of movements. Usually, they are prescribed steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to relieve pain and inflammation.

However, these drugs do not address another major concern in OA, the loss of cartilage after injury to the joint.

In osteoarthritis, cartilage often become damage due to mechanical stresses placed in the joint. It is usually prevalent as a person age. This continuous deterioration leads to the condition.

During high impact activities, the cartilage, which acts as a sponge and a shock-absorbing layer, keeps our bones from grinding against each other.

However, as we age, chondrocytes, the cartilage-forming cells produce less re-generation.

Last September 12; at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Denver, a study was presented which showed to prevent cartilage loss in OA. It also showed remarkable results in helping re-generate cartilage in diseased joints.

The drug is known as teriparatide, a parathyroid hormone in drug form. Studies conducted in mice showed that 27% more cartilage was regenerated after 12 weeks of teriparatide treatment than those who received normal saline solution. Consequently, administration of the drug in later OA cases revealed a 35% increase in cartilage regeneration than in those who received saline solution.

From Science Daily:

ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2009) — An existing osteoporosis drug is the first ever found to prevent cartilage loss from osteoarthritis following injury to a joint, and may also regenerate some cartilage that has been lost to osteoarthritis, according to an early study presented September 12 at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research in Denver. While the study was in mice, the model closely mimics human osteoarthritis that develops following knee injuries, according to the study authors.

Tags: osteoarthritis, Steroids, teriparatide

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