[Therapy of osteoarthritis--from controlling the symptoms to preserving articular cartilage]

An overview of pharmacological and surgical approaches aiming to preserve the articular cartilage and prevent progression of degeneration during osteoarthrosis (OA) is given. From the pharmacological approaches the most promising appears to be glucosaminosulphate from the SYSADOA group. Also preparations affecting the bone metabolism as calcitonin and biosulphates are tested. Along with it some biological curatives blocking the activity of IL-1, TNF-alpha, MMP, and NO are experimentally used. They have been parenterally administered, however, the gene therapy enabling transfer of the genetic information by means of retroviruses directly into the joint and synthesis of the target proteins in situ becomes clinically tested. From the surgical approaches aimed to preserve the articular cartilage several methods are currently tested: joint debridment, transplantation of the soft components, transplantation of the cartilage grafts and some experimental methods.