Is a Second Course of Hyaluronic Acid Safe and Effective?

Question: Is a Second Course of Hyaluronic Acid Safe and Effective?

There are several brands of injectable hyaluronic acid. The first approved by the FDA to treat knee osteoarthritis was Synvisc. Other hyaluronic acid products include Euflexxa, Orthovisc, Hyalgan, Supartz, and Synvisc-One.

It is every patient's hope that he will see noticeable improvement after the first series of hyaluronic acid injections. If not, is a second series possible?

Answer:

First Course of Hyaluronic Acid

A complete course of treatment with Synvisc, Orthovisc, or Euflexxa requires three separate knee injections given one week apart. Both Hyalgan and Supartz require five separate injections given one week apart. Synvisc-One is a single injection formulation of Synvisc. Hyaluronic acid injections are given by a doctor or orthopedic surgeon in their office.

Second Course of Hyaluronic Acid

Study results presented at the 10th annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR 2009) indicate that a second course of hyaluronic acid is both safe and effective. In patients who received a second treatment cycle 3 weeks after the first injection, pain decreased significantly compared to their pre-treatment pain level.

Over 90% of patients who received the second course of hyaluronic acid reported their knee osteoarthritis pain was better or much better. The group of patients who received re-treatment did not have an increase in adverse events.

Bottom Line

Don't get discouraged if the first attempt to relieve knee osteoarthritis pain with hyaluronic acid fails. Researchers now believe a second course may be necessary for some people to achieve the desired result.

_Sources:

_{Tolerability and Short Term Effectiveness of Repeated Treatment Cycles of Hylan G-F 20 in 171 Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis Pain. Abstract FRI0373. EULAR.org. June 2009.}

_{A Second Cycle of Injectable Hyaluronic Acid for Knee Osteoarthritis Pain Is Safe, Effective: Presented at EULAR
http://www.docguide.com/news/content.nsf/news/852571020057CCF6852575D5007A37DC}