Abstract
BACKGROUND: Piascledine is a potential treatment for osteoarthritis; however, current evidence regarding its efficacy in patients with knee osteoarthritis remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of Piascledine in improving symptoms and its impact on blood lipid levels and body mass index in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: A randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial. The odd-numbered group was treated with Piascledine at a dose of 300mg/day, while the even-numbered group was treated with glucosamine sulfate at a dose of 1,500mg/day. Outcomes were assessed at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 58.5 ± 11.3 years, of whom 42.0% were male. Obesity (OR=2.83; 95% CI: 1.88-4.26; p<0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR=2.07; 95% CI: 1.17-3.67; p<0.05) were identified as factors significantly increasing the risk of severe osteoarthritis. At 4 weeks and 8 weeks, the Piascledine group showed a reduction in VAS scores from 49.3 ± 19.6mm to 37.6 ± 14.2mm and 25.3 ± 10.2mm, respectively. At 4 weeks, the VAS and WOMAC scores showed greater improvement in the GCS group compared to the Piascledine group. However, at 8 weeks, there was no significant difference in efficacy between the two groups. Treatment with Piascledine slightly increased triglyceride levels from 2.3 ± 1.4mmol/L to 2.7 ± 1.4mmol/L. Side effects were observed in 16.0% of patients during treatment, with the most common being nausea (10.0%). CONCLUSION: The study indicates that obesity and hypertriglyceridemia are risk factors for severe knee osteoarthritis. Treatment with Piascledine improves symptoms and knee joint function, without impacting body mass index or lipid metabolism. The majority of side effects were mild and primarily gastrointestinal.