[Efficacy of combined use of glycosaminoglycan peptide complex for intramuscular administration and oral diacerein in osteoarthritis: evaluation according to an observational multicenter clinical trial]

Karateev AE, Alekseeva LI, Pogozheva EY, Amirdzhanova VN, Filatova ES, Nesterenko VA, Lila AM · Terapevticheskii Arkhiv

Pain fell by at least half in 54.3% on the extract alone and 62.8% on the combination, and NSAIDs were stopped entirely in 66.7% and 77.5%. Gastrointestinal adverse events occurred in 7.8% and 8.9%, allergic reactions in 0.3% and 0.5%.

Population

Russian patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis needing regular NSAIDs

Intervention

Glycosaminoglycan peptide complex (Rumalon), 25 intramuscular injections over 12 weeks, alone (n = 2541) or with diacerein 100 mg/day (n = 414)

Comparator

The two treated groups against each other; no untreated or placebo arm

Limitations

Retrospective, non-interventional and open, with no untreated comparator, so the response rates carry the full placebo and regression-to-the-mean effect; a different product from Sigumir and given by injection.