The Ligament-NSAID Connection: NSAIDs actually cause further degeneration of joints
Ross Hauser, MD discusses in great detail the acceleration of articular cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis by nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in Journal of Prolotherapy Vol 2:1, 2010. NSAIDs are among the most commonly prescribed drugs for the treatment of osteoarthritis symptoms and are taken by 20 to 30% of elderly people in developed countries. Because of the potential side effects on the liver, stomach, GI tract, and heart, including death, treatment guidelines advise against long term use. One of the best documented but lesser known long-term side effects of NSAIDs is their negative impact on articular cartilage.
In human studies, NSAIDs have been shown to accelerate the radiographic progression of OA of the knee and hip. Dr. Hauser postulates that the massive NSAID use in osteoarthritic patients since their introduction over the past forty years is one of the main causes of the rapid rise in the need for hip and knee replacement surgery, both now and in the future.
If NSAID use continues, then most likely the exponential rise in degenerative arthritis and subsequent musculoskeletal surgeries, including knee and hip replacements as well as spine surgeries, will continue to rise as well.
Subscribe today for more state-of-the-art articles, information and discussion. For table of contents information on Volume 2:1 click here.
Acceleration of Articular cartilage degeneration in OA by NSAIDs
Ross Hauser, MD writes an extensive review of the effects of NSAIDs on articular cartilage. He reveals that in both in vitro and in vivo studies in both animals and humans it is clear that NSAIDs have been shown to have a significantly negative effect on cartilage matrix which causes an acceleration of the deterioration of articular cartilage in osteoarthritic joints. The preponderance of evidence shows that NSAIDs have no beneficial effect on articular cartilage in OA and actually accelerate the very disease for which they are most often used and prescribed. For the full article, get a copy of JOP 2:1.
