J Korean Med Assoc.  2018 Oct;61(10):623-629. 10.5124/jkma.2018.61.10.623.

Pharmacological treatment of osteoarthritis

• Kim H
• Sung YK

• KMID: 2426486
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2018.61.10.623

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic degenerative disease, and its prevalence increases with age. For patients with symptomatic OA, pharmacological treatment is suggested if symptoms and function do not improve with nonpharmacological modalities, including exercise, devices, manual therapy, or self-management programs. Attempts have been made to develop medications that prevent the structural progression of OA; however, the pharmacological treatment of OA has focused on the management of pain to improve the functional ability of joints. Clinicians try to prescribe adequate classes and doses of medications for pain relief, considering the affected parts of joints, each patient's comorbidities, and the clinical response to medical treatment, including tolerability and side effects. It is important to titrate the dose of medications as patients' symptoms change over time, maintaining the lowest effective dose for each individual.

Keyword

Osteoarthritis; Drug therapy; Pain

MeSH Terms

Comorbidity
Drug Therapy
Humans
Joints
Musculoskeletal Manipulations
Osteoarthritis*
Prevalence
Self Care

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Radiologic evaluation of knee osteoarthritis according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) classification. The figure contains representative radiographic images of each KL classification grade of knee osteoarthritis that were taken in the anteroposterior standing position. (A) KL grade 1 demonstrates doubtful narrowing of the joint space with a possible osteophyte. (B) KL grade 2 demonstrates definite narrowing of the joint space with a definite osteophyte. (C) KL grade 3 demonstrates definite narrowing of the joint space with moderate osteophyte formation, sclerosis, and possible deformity of the bony ends. (D) KL grade 4 demonstrates severe narrowing of the joint space with large osteophyte formation, marked sclerosis, and definite deformity of the bone ends.

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