Comparison of two-drug regimen of Glucosamine sulfate and Prednisolone with one-drug regimen of Glucosamine sulfate in treatment of knee osteoarthritis

This study was conducted to compare the clinical efficacy of two-drug regimen of glucosamine and prednisolone with one-drug regimen of glucosamine in treatment of knee osteoarthritis. In this randomized clinical trial, 30 patients received glucosamine and prednisolone (case group) and 25 cases underwent treatment by only glucosamine (control group) for 12 weeks. For considering pain and disability, WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities) was used. Mean value of WOMAC index in the case group was 2.81 at the beginning, 1.53 in week 6, and 1.49 in week 12. In the control group, this value was 3.15 at the beginning, 2.39 in week 6, and 2.35 in week 12. In week 6 and 12, mean value of WOMAC index was significantly lower in the case group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In patients younger than 65 years old, females, and body mass index of equal or less than 30 a significant difference was seen in both week 6 and 12 between the case and control groups (P < 0.05). Two-drug regimen of glucosamine and prednisolone in a 12-week period had a better clinical efficacy than one-drug regimen of glucosamine in lowering the pain and improving joint function of patients with knee osteoarthritis, especially females with body mass index less than 30 and younger than 65 years of age.