Treatment of experimentally induced osteoarthritis in horses using an intravenous combination of sodium pentosan polysulfate, N-acetyl glucosamine, and sodium hyaluronan

Koenig TJ, Dart AJ, McIlwraith CW, Horadagoda N, Bell RJ, Perkins N, Dart C, Krockenberger M, Jeffcott LB, Little CB · Veterinary Surgery

Mixed where McIlwraith's intramuscular PPS trial was positive: total radiographic scores and macroscopic joint and cartilage pathology scores improved versus saline, but histology, histochemistry and cartilage biochemistry did not, and synovial-fluid protein and white cell counts were higher in treated joints. The authors concluded the macroscopic improvement was unsupported by the other outcomes.

Population

16 Standardbred horses with arthroscopically induced carpal osteoarthritis on a treadmill exercise program

Intervention

Weekly intravenous PPS 3 mg/kg with N-acetyl glucosamine and hyaluronan, to day 70

Comparator

Equivalent-volume intravenous saline

Limitations

A three-drug combination given intravenously, so nothing here isolates PPS; induced disease in young horses; eight animals per group.