Glucosamine and chondroitin in the modern treatment of osteoarthritis: evidence base and place in complex therapy

Grin V.K. , Rekalov D.H., Samsonenko S.V.

Summary. Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease and one of the leading causes of chronic pain and disability worldwide. According to the Global Burden of Disease, more than 595 million people suffer from OA today, and the number of patients is expected to almost double by 2050. The disease is characterized not only by degeneration of articular cartilage, but also by chronic low-grade inflammation, remodeling of subchondral bone, changes in the synovial membrane, and damage to all structures of the joint. A modern patient with OA often has concomitant arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or obesity. Under such conditions, long-term use of NSAIDs is often limited by a high risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and nephrotoxic complications. That is why drugs that provide long-term symptom control with a high safety profile are becoming increasingly important. One such product is Teraflex®, a combination drug containing glucosamine hydrochloride and chondroitin sulfate and intended for long-term use in patients with OA.