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The efficacy and safety of polydeoxyribonucleotide for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

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Kim, Man Soo, Cho, Ryu Kyoung, In, Yong·2019·Medicine
DOI 10.1097/md.0000000000017386PMC PMC6775356
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Abstract

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to use meta-analysis techniques to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) injections for knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. Methods: Multiple comprehensive databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, were searched in November 2018 for studies that compared the effectiveness and safety of intra-articular PDRN injection for the knee joint with hyaluronic acid (HA) injection. Two reviewers independently determined study inclusion and they extracted data using a standardized data extraction form. The predefined primary outcome was Visual Analogue Scale. Secondary outcomes included Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Knee Society Score (KSS), and adverse events. Results: Five randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analysis. After 1 and 2 months, patients in the PDRN group showed significantly better improvement in pain than the HA group (P = .04 and P = .02, respectively). There was no significant difference in pain after 4 months. The pooled analysis showed that no significant differences were seen in function (KOOS and KSS) scores between the PDRN and HA groups (all P > .05) at all time points. There was no significant difference in adverse events between 2 groups (relative risks = 2.15, 95% confidential interval: 0.17–26.67, P = .55). Conclusion: The intra-articular use of PDRN was similar in function to HA, and the pain-relief effect was superior to HA for 2 months post-injection. Therefore, it could be a favorable alternative to HA to treat persistent pain associated with knee OA while avoiding side effects. Level of evidence I

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  • PDRNs are classified as prescription medications approved for injectable use for wound healing/tissue repair and knee osteoarthritis.

    “PDRNs are classified as prescription medications approved for injectable use for wound healing/tissue repair and knee osteoarthritis [19,173,174].”

    From Comparison of Polynucleotide and Polydeoxyribonucleotide in Dermatology: Molecular Mechanisms and Clinical Perspectives (2025) · cites this paper as [173]

    The Introduction and Discussion describe PDRN injections studied for knee osteoarthritis, and the Introduction notes earlier therapeutic use for skin conditions. Neither section establishes that PDRNs are classified as prescription medications or approved for injectable use for wound healing, tissue repair, or knee osteoarthritis. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Kim, M. S., Cho, R. K., & In, Y.
Affiliations
The Catholic University of Korea Seoul St. Mary's Hospital (KR)
Corresponding author
In, Yong
ORCID
Venue
Medicine
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2019-09
Volume
98
Issue
39
Pages
e17386
ISSN
  • 0025-7974 (ISSN-L)
  • 1536-5964
DOI
10.1097/md.0000000000017386
PMC
PMC6775356
OpenAlex
W2976289669
Cited by
33
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 3
FWCI
0.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rheumatology › Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Periodontal Regeneration and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans research
Keywords
polydeoxyribonucleotide, knee osteoarthritis, intra-articular injection, hyaluronic acid, analgesia, knee function, adverse events, treatment efficacy
MeSH terms
Aged, Female, Humans, Hyaluronic Acid, Injections, Intra-Articular, Knee Joint, Male, Middle Aged, Pain Measurement, Polydeoxyribonucleotides, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Osteoarthritis, Knee, Viscosupplements

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