To evaluate the clinical efficiency of using autologous conditioned (activated) serum (ACS) versus hyaluronic acid (HA) in coxarthrosis (CA).
Two groups of patients (n = 54) who were matched for age, sex, and disease duration and had a valid diagnosis of CA were examined. During 3 weeks, Groups 1 and 2 patients received intra-articular therapy with ACS or synocrome forte (Croma Pharma, Sotex), respectively, for 3 weeks. A 12-month follow-up evaluated the magnitude of pain, by using the visual analog scale (VAS, mm), the functional index WOMAC and general health, by applying the EQ-VAS scale.
The only benefit of HA was found to be more functional improvement as detected by the WOMAC index (-21.8%; t = 2.56) at an early (1-month) follow-up. After 3 months, the patients in the ACS group were recorded to have the maximum VAS pain intensity reduction that was 76.5% greater than that (t = 4.31) in the HA group. The clearest advantages of ACS therapy were traced 6 months after treatment.
The use of ACS may be a real alternative to that of HA derivatives in achieving good clinical outcomes in patients with CA. After ACS administration, there was a long-term preservation of achieved positive results.