Via practica 2/2011

Pharmacotherapy of osteoarthritisis

Osteoarthritisis (OA) is the most common disease of joints. It is a chronic and progressive disease, due to predominance of degradation over the anabolic processes in the cartilage. Main clinical manifestation of OA is pain and restriction of joint movement. In accordance with the population aging the occurrence of the disease becomes universal. Therapy is comprehensive, involving nonpharmacological and pharmacological component. In the final stage of the disease and in case of failure of conservative therapy, surgical intervention becomes inevitable. By course of the disease in mild and cautiously indicated cases a joint preserving procedure might be indicated. In the end stage disease a joint replacement is the procedure of choice. Capturing the first signs of the disease, further cooperation with other specialists in treatment, follow up of patient’s compliance is in the hands of general practitioner.

Keywords: osteoarthritis, NSAID, pain, hyaluronic acid