Balsam “Mercana-Artrovit warming” — efficacy and tolerability in knee osteoarthritis

• Main Authors: E S Tsvetkova, L N Denisov, D A Gukasyan, E L Shahramanova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: IMA-PRESS LLC 2007-10-01
• Series: Научно-практическая ревматология
• Subjects: knee osteoarthritis; placebo controlled double blind study; balsam “mercana- artrovit warming”
• Online Access: https://rsp.mediar-press.net/rsp/article/view/307
• ISSN: 1995-4484; 1995-4492

Objective. To assess efficacy, local and systemic tolerability of balsam “Mercana-Artrovit warming” (BMAW) containing methylnicotinat, mint and eucalyptus ethereal oils, propylene glycol extracts of eucalyptus, linden, nettle, elecampane, common wormwood, tansy, terpentine oil in knee osteoarthritis (KOA) Material and methods. 60 pts were included in a two-week double blind placebo controlled randomized study. BMAW 5 ml was administered in 30 pts (the main group) twice a day (in the morning and in the evening) on the target knee joint. 30 pts of control group received placebo containing only components of stuff. Demographic and clinical parameters in the main and the control groups were comparable. Inclusion criteria: age from 40 to 70 years, pain intensity in the target joint at least 40 mm on VAS, I-III radiological stage according to Kellgren, Leqesne score 4-10, treatment with NSAIDs during the previous 3 months. Exclusion criteria: indications for intra-articular glucocorticoid injection, clinically significant disturbances of internal organs function and skin damages in the region of knee joint. Clinical efficacy was assessed by WOMAC index, pain at movement and at rest, time of 15 meters walking, general assessment of efficacy (separately by the pt and by the doctor). Frequency and character of adverse events was registered. Results. Local BMAW administration provided statistically significant decrease of WO MAC summated score (p=0,008), pain at movement (p<0,001) and at rest (p<0,005). So analgesic effect of the drug is sufficient for improvement of functional activity of pts with KOA. General efficacy assessment was significantly higher in the main group (Fisher exact test, p<0,005). Placebo did not significantly change efficacy measures. Adverse events were absent in both groups. Conclusion. The results of the study allows to recommend BMAW for local therapy of KOA