PENTOSAN POLYSULFATE (CARTROPHEN) PREVENTS THE HYDROCORTISONE INDUCED LOSS OF HYALURONIC-ACID AND PROTEOGLYCANS FROM CARTILAGE OF RABBIT JOINTS AS WELL AS NORMALIZES THE KERATAN SULFATE LEVELS IN THEIR SERUM

Abstract

The intraarticular injection of a sterile solution of 25 mg hydrocortisone succinate into rabbit knee joints once a week for 8 weeks reduced the levels of proteoglycans and hyaluronic acid (HA) in articular cartilage. In contrast, the keratan sulfate (KS) peptide levels present in sera of these animals were elevated relative to a saline treated control group. By injecting 25 mg hydrocortisone succinate combined with pentosan polysulfate (Cartrophen) (5 mg) into rabbit joints over the 8 week period, the loss of proteoglycans and HA from articular cartilage was abrogated and serum KS-peptides were restored, with time, to within control levels. These findings suggest that intraarticular adminis..