Current status of glucosamine and chondroitin therapy in osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) merupakan arthritis yang paling banyak didapat. Perubahan radiologik dan atau patologik OA didapat pada mayoritas orang yang berusia lebih dari 65 tahun. Tatalaksana OA dibagi atas terapi bedah dan terapi non bedah. Terapi non bedah terdiri dari terapi farmakologik dan terapi non farmakologik seperti edukasi, latihan dan modifikasi gaya hidup. Bagi banyak penderita OA terapi farmakologik masih problematik, karena obat-obat yang digunakan dirasakan kurang efektif ataupun karena toksisitasnya, sehingga banyak penderita OA mencari terapi alternatif. Di kelompok terapi alternatif, maka glukosamin dan kondroitin merupakan zat yang paling sering dipakai. Telah banyak penelitian dilakukan untuk menilai efektifitas glukosamin dan kondroitin sebagai terapi terhadap OA. Hasil penelitian-penelitian tersebut ternyata masih kontroversial. Tinjauan pustaka ini akan mengupas status terkini dari glukosamin dan kondroitin pada pengobatan OA. (Med J Indones 2005; 14: 55-8) Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. Radiographic and or pathologic changes of OA are present in most people older than 65 years old. The management of OA is divided into medical / non surgical and surgical treatment. The medical treatment consisted of pharmacologic and non pharmacologic treatment. The pharmacologic treatment of OA is still problematic for many patients, either due to a lack of efficacy or due to the toxicity of the drugs used in the treatment of OA, so that many OA patients seek for alternative medication. Glucosamine and chondroitin are the most commonly used alternative agents for the treatment in OA. Many studies had been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of glucosamine and chondroitin in the treatment of OA. So far the result is controversial. The purpose of this article is to highlight the current status of the use of glucosamine and chondroitin in OA treatment. (Med J Indones 2005; 14: 55-8