[Quantitatively evaluated magnetic resonance tomography as a therapeutic follow-up of the nonsteroidal antirheumatic ademetionin: a pilot study in patients with gonarthrosis]

Abstract

The report deals with a double-blind study of nine patients treated over a period of three months with either ademetionin (five patients) or with a placebo (four patients). Prior to treatment, and after three months, clinical and biochemical studies were carried out as well as radiological examinations and MRT. The latter had been standardised previously in order to obtain a cartilage signal which could be quantified. Of the five patients treated with ademetionin, none were improved clinically, two were worse and three were unchanged, but on MRT, three were improved, one was worse and one was unchanged. Amongst the placebo patients, the clinical results were: three improved, none worse and one unchanged, with similar findings on MRT. MRT appears to be useful for complementing the information for treatment planning with chondroprotective drugs.