Effects of hyaluronan on nitric oxide levels and superoxide dismutase activities in synovial fluid in knee osteoarthritis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of hyaluronan (HA) on nitric oxide (NO) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities in synovial fluid (SF) in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). SF samples were aspirated from OA patients before the commencement of the treatment (n=23) and 6 weeks after they were treated with HA products. NO levels and SOD activities were compared between the pre- and post-treatment of OA patients and of the control group (n=10). SF NO levels were significantly higher in patients with OA before the commencement of the treatment compared with the post-treatment (p