| Objective To observe the effect of Chonggu granules on clinical symptoms and related
laboratory indicators in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Methods The 60 patients with KOA were
divided into two groups, with 30 cases each in the treatment group and the control group. The patients in
the control group received oral glucosamine hydrochloride tablets, patients in the treatment group receive Chonggu granules on the basis of the control group, and the treatment period was 12 weeks. The change of efficacy evaluation scale and TCM symptom score before and after treatment were observed. C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), IL-6, IFN-γ, and bone metabolism and biochemical indexes (urine Ca, urine P, BALP, TRACP-5b, and IGF-1), matrix metalloproteinase indexes (MMP-1, MMP-13), and serum OPG, RANKL level and OPG/RANKL ratio were detected. Results There were no case of exfoliation in either group. The clinical efficacy indicators in both groups after treatment were improved compared with those before treatment. The levels of efficacy evaluation scale, TCM symptom score, CRP, ESR, IL-6, IFN-γ, urine Ca, urine P, TRACP-5b, MMP-1, MMP-13, and RANKL in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group after treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the levels of BALP, IGF-1 and OPG were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). No significant adverse effect was observed in either group. Conclusion Heavy bone granules effectively improve the clinical symptoms, inflammatory factors, and bone metabolism levels
of patients with KOA. The mechanism may be related to the expression of OPG/RANKL/RANK signaling
pathway. |