[Current medical possibilities in the treatment of arthrosis]

DRUG CLASSES: Three drug classes can be distinguished. The first includes drugs used for symptomatic care. This class includes a subclass of rapid action drugs (antalgesics, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, NSAID) and a subclass of symptomatic slow acting drugs. The second class corresponds to antiosteoartritis drugs called chondroprotective drugs or structure modifying. The third class includes drugs used for local care.

For episodes of acute pain, the first intention prescription should include rapid action drugs for symptomatic relief (paracetamol then NSAID). A symptomatic slow acting antiosteoarthritis drug can also be associated then continued after interrupting the rapid action symptomatic drugs. Diacerein is a drug with prolonged antiosteoarthritis action that has proven efficacy for symptom relief equi-valent to NSAID assessed in terms of pain relief and function: the ECHODIAH study provides arguments favoring its chondromodulating effect.