[Artificial synovial fluid for the intra-articular treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis (chemical synthesis and clinico-experimental and biomechanical data)].

Based on the clinical, experimental and biomechanical studies the authors suggest intraarticular treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and deforming osteoarthrosis (DOA) by means of artificial synovial fluid (ASF) developed with the use of polymers and biopolymers. Rheological studies performed with the use of a Rheotest-2 apparatus and ultrasonic interferometry of the samples of normal, RA, DOA synovial fluid and ASF demonstrated that medium-molecular-weight polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and PVP hyaluronate appeared the most similar to natural synovial fluid, PVP-hyaluronate, PVP and its complexes with other drugs (cyclophosphamide, hydrocortisone, arteparone) were applied intraarticularly to the treatment of 520 patients with RA and DOA. The group of patients who received kenalog or placebo intraarticularly served as control. Over 3000 intraarticular administrations of ASF and its complexes were made altogether. No side effects were observed. In the articular medium, PVP displayed lubrication, anti-inflammatory, prolonging, anticommissural and other effects. Attention is drawn to the immunoregulatory action of PVP. The treatment with artificial articular lubricants promoted the improvement of the function of the joints and positive time-course of some clinical, laboratory, biochemical and immunological characteristics.