The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Concomitant Glucosamine and Aspirin Therapy in Uveitis

Abstract

Purpose: : We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of concomitant use of glucosamine and aspirin as an adjunctive therapy in uveitis not easily controlled with systemic immunosuppressants including steroid.

Methods: : A prospective interventional study was done in 27 consecutive patients (43 eyes) with uveitis in Shin-chon Severance Hospital. The mean follow- up period was 3.4 months. 750 mg of glucosamine sulfate and 100mg of aspirin were adjunctively used daily, and corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber reaction, and the changes of oral medicine dosage were all documented every 2 weeks for 2 months and then every one month.

Results: : Visual acuities had no statistically significant change after the treatment. On average 4.6 weeks later the anterior chamber reaction began to decrease and improved in 26 eyes(60.5%). The dosage of systemic steroids decreased in 7 patients(25.9%), and concomitant immunosuppressants in 5 patients(18.5%). However, anterior chamber reaction became activated in 10 eyes of 7 patients(23.2%) during the follow up period.

Conclusions: : In patients with chronic uveitis hardly controlled with immunosuppressants or patients not tolerable to the previous medicine, glucosamine sulfate and aspirin revealed significant anti-inflammatory effect without any serious side effects. Furthermore, the long-term period of studies are necessary for larger group of patients.

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • immunomodulation/immunoregulation