Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Hyaluronic acid, a polymer polysaccharide, has a certain effect on the osteoarthritic diseases and has been widely used. But its mechanism is not entirely clear and the specific effect remains disputes. So how to select appropriate patients, appropriate drugs for getting greater efficacy and reducing side effects has become the aims of many scholars.
OBJECTIVE: To review the application, underlying mechanism, safety, efficacy, indications and adverse reactions of hyaluronic acid used for osteoarthritic diseases.
METHODS: A computer-based online search of CNKI (www.cnki.net) and PubMed database (www.pubmed.com) was performed with key words of “hyaluronic acid, fractures, arthritis” in Chinese and “hyaluronic acid, hyaluronan, osteoarthritis, fracture” in English.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Finally, 47 literatures were included for analysis. Hyaluronic acid is safe and effective for osteoarthritic diseases. The main mechanisms are: coverage, lubrication, cushioning cartilage stress; reducing the intra-articular inflammation; promoting the secretion of endogenous hyaluronic acid. Strict control of its indications and selection of suitable molecular weight hyaluronic acid can increase the symptomatic relief and improve treatment satisfaction, while reducing the medical data waster and adverse events. But some problems such as the course of hyaluronic acid treatment, interval and drug selection are still disputable and require further study.