An assessment of the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid and polyacrylamide hydrogel in horses with osteoarthritis: Systematic review and network meta-analysis

da Silva Xavier, A. A. and da Rosa, P. P. and de Brum Mackmill, L. and Roll, V. F. B.

Res Vet Sci (2021) 134: 42–50

DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.11.013

Abstract

For several years, hyaluronic acid (HyA) and, more recently, polyacrylamide hydrogel (PHyd) have been used to reduce lameness and pain caused by osteoarthritis. However, there is still a lack of scientific evidence of the efficacy of these substances to allow veterinary experts to make decisions about their use in horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate, through a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA), the efficacy of HyA, associated or not with other drugs, and PHyd in relieving lameness in horses with osteoarthritis. The searches for primary studies were conducted on four search platforms. The efficacy of HyA and PHyd was estimated through the relative risk difference method. Heterogeneity was observed in the efficacy of HyA, indicating long-term ineffectiveness of this drug when associated or not with anti-inflammatory drugs. In contrast, the results indicate that PHyd is an effective alternative therapy, with a long period of action in reducing lameness in horses with osteoarthritis. This study provides evidence that the application of PHyd and HyA is effective in reducing lameness caused by osteoarthritis in horses at different time periods, where PHyd has a longer time of action.

Citation

da Silva Xavier, A. A., da Rosa, P. P., de Brum Mackmill, L., & Roll, V. F. B. (2021). An assessment of the effectiveness of hyaluronic acid and polyacrylamide hydrogel in horses with osteoarthritis: Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Res Vet Sci, 134, 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.11.013 Animals, Horses, meta-analysis, Equus, horses, systematic reviews, therapeutics, therapy, Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries of Animals [LL860], data analysis, research, studies, lameness, Lameness, racehorses, Veterinary Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology [LL882], osteoarthritis, Horse, Arthritis, Risk ratio, Therapies, efficacy, heterogeneity, pain, Sport Animals [LL075], drugs, medicines, pharmaceuticals, hyaluronic acid, polyacrylamide hydrogel, race horses, Acrylic Resins/*therapeutic use, Analgesics/*therapeutic use, Horse Diseases/*drug therapy, Hyaluronic Acid/*therapeutic use, Lameness, Animal/*drug therapy/etiology, Network Meta-Analysis, Osteoarthritis/complications/drug therapy/*veterinary

Keywords

• Animals
• Horses
• meta-analysis
• Equus
• horses
• systematic reviews
• therapeutics
• therapy
• Non-communicable Diseases and Injuries of Animals [LL860]
• data analysis
• research
• studies
• lameness
• Lameness
• racehorses
• Veterinary Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology [LL882]
• osteoarthritis
• Horse
• Arthritis
• Risk ratio
• Therapies
• efficacy
• heterogeneity
• pain
• Sport Animals [LL075]
• drugs
• medicines
• pharmaceuticals
• hyaluronic acid
• polyacrylamide hydrogel
• race horses
• Acrylic Resins/*therapeutic use
• Analgesics/*therapeutic use
• Horse Diseases/*drug therapy
• Hyaluronic Acid/*therapeutic use
• Lameness
• Animal/*drug therapy/etiology
• Network Meta-Analysis
• Osteoarthritis/complications/drug therapy/*veterinary