Effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate on chondromalacia patellae. A placebo-controlled 1-year study.

The effect of glycosaminoglycan polysulfate (GAGPS) on damaged patellar cartilage and clinical symptoms of chondromalacia was studied on 31 patients in a placebo-controlled double-blind trial. The clinical diagnosis was confirmed by arthroscopy. The treatment consisted of 12 intramuscular injections of either GAGPS or placebo, and the patients were followed for 1 year. In 26 patients, rearthroscopy was performed at the 1-year follow-up. Comparison of the two arthroscopies showed improvement in 8/13 patients in the GAGPS group compared with 3/13 in the placebo group. The clinical parameters correlated well with the results of the arthroscopies. The results support the use of GAGPS for chondromalacia patellae.