Usually, studies on equine joint disease treatments inform human doctors of techniques to manage patients with osteoarthritis (OA). But, as research on OA treatments advances in many species, human research might help inform equine veterinarians of possible therapies on the horizon. In one such study, researchers in Denmark evaluated the use of low to medium molecular weight hyaluronic acid (HA) combined with gold microparticles to treat hip OA.
Research on Gold Microparticles as Treatment for OA
In a previous study, biomarkers indicated gold microparticles used to treat knee OA effectively reduced inflammation. Between January 2019 and December 2021, researchers in a pilot study with 22 patients injected gold microparticles into 26 painful hip joints confirmed to have OA. They performed these injections with ultrasound guidance using 2 mL HA mixed with 20 mg sterile gold microparticles. The HA served as a carrier for the gold microparticles and provided joint lubrication and pain mitigation. The researchers followed up with 20 patients and 24 hips after eight weeks and again at two years. (The same physician administered the injections and evaluated patient pain before and after eight weeks. The two-year follow-up was conducted by two medical students.) Because this was a pilot study, it did not include a control group with placebo injections.
Study Findings
The authors reported that the HA provides pain relief for at least eight weeks and for as long as six months. The low to medium molecular weight enables the gold particles to float in the HA for better delivery within the joint. The authors reported that normal HA degradation leaves gold microparticles “as the sole active agent.” Gold has been used as an anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases, and it is hypothesized that gold microparticles can provide a favorable and continuous clinical effect for two years.
The authors summarized: “Intraarticular treatment with metallic gold microparticles and hyaluronic acid may improve hip joint pain and function. Joint stiffness did not improve when adjusting for the minimal clinically relevant difference. Intraarticular gold microparticles and hyaluronic acid relieved pain and enhanced function in 17 of 20 patients.” One person experienced no effect from the treatment; two people developed worsening pain.
Final Thoughts
There were no differences in response between eight weeks and two years. The authors concluded that gold microparticles might provide a new targeted approach to managing osteoarthritis.
Reference
Rasmussen S, Skjoldemose E, Jergensen NIK. Intraarticular gold microparticles using hyaluronic acid as the carrier for hip osteoarthritis. A 2-year follow-up pilot study. Nature Scientific Reports 2024, vol 14; DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-77760-5
Related Reading
- Injectable Gold: A Potential New Treatment for Equine Osteoarthritis?
- Systemic and Intra-Articular Therapies for Lame Horses
- Healing With Horsepower: Recent Orthobiologics Research
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