Clinical efficacy and mechanism of celecoxib in treatment of knee osteoarthritis
LIANG Hongwei1, YU Lei1, ZHAO Baofeng1, and LIU Yimin2
1. The Second Surgical Department, Beijing Municipal Corps Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force, Beijing 100027, China; 2. Sanlitun Community Healthcare Center, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, China
Abstract：Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of celecoxib, one of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs), in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its effect on the caspase. Methods A total of 80 KOA patients admitted to the Second Department ofBeijing Municipal Corps Hospital of Chinese People’s Armed Police Force from January 2019 to December 2022 wererandomlydivided into control group (treated with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound) and research group (orally treated with celecoxib capsules plus low-intensity pulsed ultrasound) before and 8 weeks after treatment respectively. Visual analogue scale (VAS), Japanese Orthopaedic Association score (JOA) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) were scored on thepatientsto determine the score of signs and symptomsand calculatethe improvement rate of curative effect, caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels were measured in serum and synovial fluid, and adverse drug reactions were monitored during the treatment. Results The total clinical efficacy rate in research group (90.0%) were notably elevated as compared to the control group (77.5%) (P<0.05). The VAS, JOA and WOMAC in post-treatment of both groups were evidently improved as compared to those in pre-treatment (P<0.01). In comparison with the control group, the VAS, JOA and WOMAC were significantly improved and the caspase-3 and caspase-9 levels in serum and synovial fluid were significantly decreased in research group after the treatment (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The difference in the incidence of adverse reactions between the two groups was not statistically significant during the treatment (P>0.05). Conclusions The efficacy of celecoxib in treating KOA isconfirmed by the inhibition of KOA pathology through downregulation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 expression in serum and synovial fluid, which may be related withits intervention in chondrocyte apoptosis.
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2023, Vol. 34 
