Safety and efficacy findings from a non-interventional study of a new hyaluronic acid/sorbitol formulation (GO-ON® matrix) for intra-articular injection to relieve pain and disability in osteoarthritis patients.

This non-interventional study was intended to examine the efficacy and tolerability of intra-articular injections with the GO-ON® matrix, a new viscosupplement product made of non-animal sodium hyaluronate combined with the oxygen free radical scavenger sorbitol, when used in routine clinical practice. A total of 1 147 patients (43.5% male, 53,5% female, 3% missing) aged on average 63.3 years with osteoarthritis were enrolled in 398 centers and treated with the product. The most commonly treated joint was the knee (92.9%) with a Kellgren-Lawrence classification of Grade I (6.7%), Grade II (31.4%), Grade III (48.0%), and Grade IV (13.9%).Most patients (58-66%, imputing for missing data) received 1 injection, 29-40% received 3 injections. Using a Likert scale to asses pain, the mean change in pain due to osteoarthritis was a reduction of 56.5% from baseline (2.61±0.80) to 6 months (1.07±0.86). At baseline, 56.2% of patients reported severe/very severe pain versus 5.9% after 6 months. Accordingly, 6.8% of patients reported no pain/mild pain at baseline vs. 67.1% after 6 months. At baseline, 28.9% reported no pain/mild pain vs. to 66.4% after 6 months. At baseline, 29.1% of patients reported severe/very severe functional impairment vs. 3.9% 6 months after the first injection. The 3 and 6 month results were comparable.Adverse reactions were rare and confined to musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders. No infections were reported in any treated joints. The results confirm that the GO-ON matrix® treatment is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of symptoms due to osteoarthritis. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.