Effect of articular cavity injection of chitosan on the joint function of osteoarthritis patients

Objective To investigate the effect of ectogenesis chitosan and hyaluronic acid on the joint function of osteoarthritis patients.Methods Forty-two patients suffered from knee osteoarthritis were divided randomly into chitosan group(26 osteoarthritis knees of 20 patients) and hyaluronic acid group(28 knees of 22 patients).Two millilitre of one percent chitosan or hyaluronic acid was injected into the articular cavity.Three injections were performed within 1 month every course.Four courses were done within 1 year.Joint function index were observed in 1,4,7,12 months after the first injection,and the content of IL-1,IL-6 and TNF-α of joint fluid were detected.Results In chitosan group,the joint function index were higher than that before treatment.The efficient rate in 1st,4th,7th,12th month were 19.2%,42.3%,50.0% and 65.4% respectively.There was not any difference between these two groups.The level of IL-1,IL-6 and TNF-α decreased significantly after treatment in both groups.Conclusion Ectogenesis chitosan as well as hyaluronic acid has good effect on osteoarthritis.