Clinical Study on the Effects of Diacerein and Diacerein Combined with Chondroitin Sulfate on Canine Hip Osteoarthritis

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diacerein (DAR) and DAR combined with chondroitin sulfate (CS) for treatment of canine hip osteoarthritis (OA) in a 6-month clinical trial. Client-owned dogs included in the study consisted of 27 males and 25 females, aged 59.43 +/- 17.05 months old and weighing 17.63 +/- 5.19 kg. The dogs were randomly divided into five groups: DAR50 (administration of DAR 50 mg daily); DAR100 (DAR 100 mg daily); DAR50/CS (DAR 50 mg + CS 525 mg daily); DAR100/CS (DAR 100 mg + CS 525 mg daily); and CS (CS 525 mg daily). Dogs were re-examined monthly for 6 months after initiation of treatment. The assessment protocol included clinical scores and radiographic findings. Blood samples were collected three times (pre-treatment, and after 3 and 6 months) for evaluation of the serum biomarker, CS-WF6. Dogs treated with DAR showed statistically significant improvements (P<0.05) in lameness, joint mobility, pain on palpation, weight-bearing, and overall clinical score at 3, 6, 5, 4, and 4 months, respectively, after the start of treatment. Side effects, including diarrhea and dark-colored urine, were found in all groups receiving DAR. After the 3rd month, the level of serum CS-WF6 in the CS group was significantly elevated (P<0.05), while the other four groups showed a significant decrease (P<0.05). The results showed that DAR 50 or 100 mg had a similarly positive therapeutic effect on dogs with osteoarthritis. The use of DAR alone or in combination with CS resulted in decreased degradation of OA cartilage.