Safety of intra-articular hyaluronates for pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Sodium hyaluronate (Hyalgan, and Supartz) and hylan G-F 20 (Synvisc) are hyaluronans (HA) injected intra-articularly for pain relief in osteoarthritis of the knee. Each product has demonstrated a very favorable safety profile in clinical trials and practice. The most common adverse event associated with their use is mild injection site pain and swelling. Rare incidences of pseudogout and anaphylactoid reactions have been reported to be associated with their use. Occasionally, pseudosepsis, also known as a severe acute inflammatory reaction (SAIR) syndrome, has been reported to be associated with these products. Clinical and postmarketing data indicate that HA therapy is a safe treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee.