Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid treatments in equine degenerative joint disease. A review.
Abstract: Degenerative arthrosis is perhaps the most common debilitating disease of performance horses. Treatment should be based upon a knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of normal joints and upon an understanding of the processes of degeneration and repair. These topics are briefly reviewed. Although rest is probably, the most beneficial therapy, physical and pharmaceutical treatments are often employed in an effort to speed recovery. The effects and relative benefits of intrasynovial injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronica cid, and Arteparon are considered in detail. Although local corticosteroid therapy is inexpensive and is effective in reducing lameness caused by degenerative joint disease, it is rarely indicated. Septic arthritis and "steroid arthropathy" are two serious sequelae. Whereas the incidence of the former may be avoided through careful technique, the latter effect is inherent in the action of the drug. The accelerated rate of joint destruction observed in steroid arthropathy is due to suppression of chondrocyte metabolism and thus the processes of cartilage maintenance and repair. Hyaluronic acid is present in the synovial fluid and within the matrix of cartilage. The commercial preparation is no approved for use in the United States, but it is commonly obtained from other countries. Although hyaluronate apparently does not function in the lubrication of cartilage surfaces, it may improve lubrication of soft tissues thus decreasing resistance to joint movement and lessening pain. Reports substantiate the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid in treating early cases of degenerative arthrosis despite the fact that the drug does not significantly promote cartilage healing. Arteparon, a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, has been used in Europe for two decades in the treatment of degeneration joint disease and is currently being tested in this country. The drug is deposited within diseased cartilage and improves the functional properties of the cartilage as well as stimulates cartilage metabolism.
Publication Date: 1981-10-01 PubMed ID: 7032840
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Review
Summary
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The research article explores the effects of corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid treatments in managing degenerative joint disease in horses. The paper also highlights the benefits and potential risks of the treatments, and delves into how these substances interact with joint anatomy and physiology.
Understanding Joint Anatomy and Degenerative Processes
- The research begins by stressing the importance of understanding the normal function and structure of joints, and how degeneration and repair processes occur.
- It also explains that rest is the most beneficial therapy for degenerative arthrosis. However, pharmaceutical treatments such as intrasynovial injections of corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, and Arteparon are used to expedite recovery.
Corticosteroids as a Treatment
- The research elaborates that while corticosteroids, due to their inexpensiveness and effectiveness in reducing lameness, are commonly used, their use is seldom recommended.
- This, according to the study, is because the use of corticosteroids gives rise to serious consequences such as septic arthritis and ‘steroid arthropathy’.
- The researchers attribute the latter effect to the drug’s property to suppress chondrocyte metabolism, which inhibits the process of maintaining and repairing cartilage.
Hyaluronic Acid as a Treatment
- Hyaluronic acid, which is present in synovial fluid and within the matrix of cartilage, may not lubricate the cartilage surfaces but may improve the lubrication of soft tissues. This in turn lessens pain and decreases resistance to joint movement.
- The effectiveness of hyaluronic acid is discussed in the paper: it can effectively treat early cases of degenerative arthrosis, despite not significantly promoting cartilage healing.
Arteparon as a Treatment
- Lastly, the paper explains the use of Arteparon, a polysulfated glycosaminoglycan, used in Europe for the treatment of degenerative joint disease for over 20 years and currently undergoing tests in the United States.
- Arteparon is found to improve the functional properties of the cartilage and stimulate cartilage metabolism as it gets deposited within the diseased cartilage.
Cite This Article
APA
Nizolek DJ, White KK.
(1981).
Corticosteroid and hyaluronic acid treatments in equine degenerative joint disease. A review.
Cornell Vet, 71(4), 355-375.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones / administration & dosage
- Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Cartilage, Articular / anatomy & histology
- Glycosaminoglycans / therapeutic use
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Hyaluronic Acid / administration & dosage
- Hyaluronic Acid / therapeutic use
- Injections, Intra-Articular
- Joint Diseases / drug therapy
- Joint Diseases / pathology
- Joint Diseases / veterinary
- Joints / anatomy & histology
- Joints / pathology
References
This article includes 99 references
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Broeckx SY, Seys B, Suls M, Vandenberghe A, Mariën T, Adriaensen E, Declercq J, Van Hecke L, Braun G, Hellmann K, Spaas JH. Equine Allogeneic Chondrogenic Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are an Effective Treatment for Degenerative Joint Disease in Horses. Stem Cells Dev 2019 Mar 15;28(6):410-422.
- Bembo F, Eraud J, Philandrianos C, Bertrand B, Silvestre A, Veran J, Sabatier F, Magalon G, Magalon J. Combined use of platelet rich plasma & micro-fat in sport and race horses with degenerative joint disease: preliminary clinical study in eight horses. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 2016 Apr-Jun;6(2):198-204.
- Broeckx S, Zimmerman M, Crocetti S, Suls M, Mariën T, Ferguson SJ, Chiers K, Duchateau L, Franco-Obregón A, Wuertz K, Spaas JH. Regenerative therapies for equine degenerative joint disease: a preliminary study. PLoS One 2014;9(1):e85917.
- Brennan JJ, Aherne FX, Nakano T. Effects of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate treatment on soundness, hyaluronic acid content of synovial fluid and proteoglycan aggregate in articular cartilage of lame boars. Can J Vet Res 1987 Jul;51(3):394-8.
- Trotter GW, Yovich JV, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW. Effects of intramuscular polysulfated glycosaminoglycan on chemical and physical defects in equine articular cartilage. Can J Vet Res 1989 Apr;53(2):224-30.
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