The drug treatment of osteoarthritis

Recent recognition of the importance of inflammation and the efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs in osteoarthritis has increased their importance in the routine management of the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs do more than just relieving pain; they reduce the duration of morning stiffness, stiffness after sitting and the number of tender joints. Patients usually prefer them to simple analgesics. The choice of anti-inflammatory drugs is determined largely by individual variation in response so that it may be necessary to try a number of different compounds before finding one which suits a particular patient. Intra-articular steroids are disappointing in that though effective, their action is very brief. Intra-articular orgotein may have a useful role in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Simple analgesics are useful for patients with mild or intermittent pain when regular treatment is inappropriate. Specific therapy, like penicillamine for rheumatoid arthritis or allopurinol for gout, is urgently required. Better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease may make this possible.