New hydrogel technology, researched and adapted for veterinary use, offers a pioneering treatment for osteoarthritis in horses without an active pharmaceutical.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is often cited as the most significant musculoskeletal disorder in both humans and horses. Clinically, it is associated with pain, lameness and dysfunction of the affected joint and around 60% of all equine lameness is due to OA (1).
The rapid resolution of lameness by a reduction in pain is paramount, but treatment should ideally also serve to arrest or slow the progression of disease (2). A new non-pharmaceutical technology provides veterinarians a pioneering leap forward in the treatment of this debilitating disease in animals. This novel product is ArthramidVet®, a 2.5% (25mg/mL) IL-X Cross-linked Polyacrylamide (PAAG) Hydrogel now registered in Australia and New Zealand for the intra-articular treatment of non-infectious causes of lameness in horses. ArthramidVet® is a Schedule 4 Prescription Animal Remedy yet contains no pharmaceutical active.
In its natural state, ArthramidVet® is an inert, non-pyrogenic and neuro- innocuous porous polymer hydrogel consisting of 97.5% sterile water and 2.5% cross-linked polyacrylamide.
Following intra-articular injection ArthramidVet® adsorbs into the synovial membrane over a period of 2 to 4 weeks, to become fully incorporated into the sub-intimal layer of the synovium through a process of cell migration and vessel ingrowth [see Figure 2 below]. It is safe, biocompatible and non-degradable, creating permanent bonds with its host tissue and providing powerful mechanical and disease-modifying properties (3).
ArthramidVet® acts as a dynamic tissue scaffold forming a thick, cushion-like membrane that increases the elasticity and tensile strength of the joint capsule. A new and hypercellular synovial cell lining also forms facing the joint cavity. This precise therapeutic action on the synovium improves its capacity to transfer load, modifies the disease process and improves joint function (3,4).
Multiple studies worldwide have shown that ArthramidVet® resolves OA lameness in 66 – 83% of horses (5-9). A 2018 Australian study in racing Thoroughbreds showed that ArthramidVet® resulted in 83.3% of horses being sound at 6 weeks in the face of ongoing exercise (pending publication). That is, the total elimination of lameness in 83.3% of horses, not just a degree of improvement. In contrast, the study’s alternative treatment groups showed at 6 weeks only 40% were sound after hyaluronic acid (HA) and 27.3% after triamcinolone (TA) – see Graph at top of page. 2.5% PAAG has also been used to manage osteoarthritis in dogs and cats and has recently been approved for use in human knee osteoarthritis in Europe. Whilst formal research on the use in companion animals is limited, positive results have been reported in the treatment of OA in elbows, hips and stifles and data collection continues with results pending publication.
ArthramidVet® is a ground-breaking new technology that allows progressive veterinarians the ability to manage lameness more effectively for longer and without any active pharmaceutical. Whether the greater reward is less lameness, improved animal welfare or reduced drug administration, this long-term non-pharmaceutical OA treatment ticks many boxes.
This sponsored article recently appeared in the Australian Vet Practice Magazine. https://vetpracticemag.com.au/arthramid-vet/
