Hyaluronan or hylans for knee osteoarthritis?

doi:10.1136/dtb.1999.37971

Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin 1999;37:71-72; doi:10.1136/dtb.1999.37971

Hyaluronan or hylans for knee osteoarthritis?

Relevant BNF section: 10.1

In joints affected by osteoarthritis, the synovial fluid's capacityto lubricate and to absorb shock are typically reduced. Thesechanges are partly due to a reduction in the size and concentrationof hyaluronic acid (hyaluronan¹) molecules naturally presentin synovial fluid. A new approach in the management of osteoarthritisof the knee is to inject hyaluronan or derivatives of this molecule(hylans) into the joint. We consider the place of two preparations: ${blacktriangledown}$ Hyalgan and Synvisc.