Medical treatment for osteoarthritis

Kim, Jinseok

doi:2009.6.4.215

J Med Life Sci > Volume 6(4); 2009 > Article

Journal of Medicine and Life Science 2009;6(4):215-219.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22730/jmls.2009.6.4.215 Published online September 30, 2009.

골관절염의 내과적 치료

김진석

제주대학교 의과대학 내과학 교실

Medical treatment for osteoarthritis

Jinseok Kim

Department of Internal Medicine, Jeju National University College of Medicine, Jeju, Korea

Correspondence: Jinseok Kim, Email: sleraljejunu.ac.kr

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common type of arthritis and is one of leading causes of chronic disability among older individuals. The occurrence of OA is increasing because of increasing prevalence of obesity and the aging of the community OA is a disease affecting synovial joints and is characterized by degradation and loss of articular cartilage with subchondral bone remodeling，osteophyte formation and synovial membrane inflammation. Genetic, biologic, biochemical, nutritional and mechanical factors besides degeneration of cartilage contribute to the process of OA. The targets of therapy in OA include inflammation, cartilage breakdown, chondrocyte apoptosis, and subchondral bone remodeling. There are no curative agents, and the current goals of the treatment of OA are to relieve pain and minimized loss of function. Therapeutic development must consider that OA is a complex disease with wide variety of clinical presentations. In spite of intensive research in disease-modifying agents, there is limited evidence to support their use in routine clinical practice. This article reviews existing data on the current treatments for OA.

Key Words: Osteoarthritis; Diacerein; Hyaluronic acid; Glucosamine