Local NSAID gel (eltenac) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee. A double blind study comparing eltenac with oral diclofenac and placebo gel.

In a randomized, double blind, multicentre study with 4 weeks follow-up of 290 patients with osteoarthritis of the knee joint, a topical NSAID (eltenac) was compared with oral diclofenac and placebo. The main outcome, Lequesne's Index and pain by VAS showed no statistically significant differences between neither of the active treatments and placebo for the total study population. However, in patients with more severe symptoms, both active groups showed statistically significant differences to placebo.

Effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate on chondromalacia patellae. A placebo-controlled 1-year study.

The effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS) on damaged patellar cartilage and clinical symptoms of chondromalacia was studied on 31 patients in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by arthroscopy. The treatment consisted of 12 intramuscular injections of either GAGPS or placebo, and the patients were followed for 1 year.

Mucopolysaccharide polysulphate cream in the prevention of pressure sores--a double blind study.

Early pressure areas in 38 cases (33 patients) were randomly treated twice daily with topical applications of either mucopolysaccharide polysulphate (MPS) or the cream base. The patients were assessed weekly for 4 weeks, the main parameter being change in the area of the pressure area. In the MPS group a significant reduction in size was obtained during the 2nd week of treatment, while in the control group a significant reduction was not obtained until week 4.