Glossary
Adverse reaction
An undesirable event occurring during or following the use of a medicine or a medical device.
Analgesics
A drug or medicine given to reduce pain without causing a loss of consciousness.
Arthritis
An inflammatory joint disease that can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness and/or redness of the skin over the joint.
Arthroscopy
Inspection of the inside of a joint by introducing a fibre optic scope (arthroscope) into the joint space.
Avian
Relating to, affecting, resembling or derived from a bird. For hyaluronic acid "avian origin" means extracted from rooster combs.
Cartilage
Fibrous, elastic connective tissue that provides support to skeletal bones at specific sites and forms the smooth surface of joints.
Clinical trials
Investigations in humans (in this case), to find out the efficacy and/or safety of medical drugs or devices.
Collagen
A tough, fibrous protein forming an important part of skin, tendons, bones, cartilage and other connective tissues. Collagen helps hold together the cells and tissues of the body.
Corticosteroids
Potent anti-inflammatory hormones that are produced naturally in the body or synthetically for use as drugs
Dexamethasone
A synthetic glucocorticoid used primarily in the treatment of inflammatory disorders.
Efficacy
The ability to produce the necessary or desired results, namely control or cure a disease.
Elasticity
The ability of a substance, in this case cartilage, to return quickly to its original shape and size after being bent, stretched, or squashed.
Hyaluronic acid (Hyaluronan)
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance widely distributed in the body and found in numerous organs, especially, joints, eyeball, skin. In the joints, Hyaluronic Acid is found in the matrix of the cartilage and is an essential component of the synovial fluid.
Idiopathic
Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be termed idiopathic.
Intra-articular
Within the cavity of the joint.
Molecular weight
The mass of a molecule. The sum of the atomic weights of all the atoms in a molecule
NSAIDs
Non Steroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs (examples include Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Naproxen and so-called Cox-2 inhibitors).
Orthopedics
The branch of medicine concerned with the nature and correction of disorders of the bones, joints, ligaments, or muscles.
Osteoarthritis
The most common form of arthritis. A joint disease that is characterized by a breakdown of the cartilage and a deterioration of the fluid in a joint; symptoms of osteoarthritis include pain and stiffness.
Rheumatology
The area of medicine that is concerned with the causes, development, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the joints, muscles, and connective tissues.
Rhizarthrosis
Arthrosis of the hand (at the base of the thumb).
Side-effect
An undesirable event occurring during or following the use of a medicine or a medical device.
Sodium Hyaluronate
See Hyaluronic Acid
Synovial fluid
The hyaluronan-containing fluid found in a joint that lubricates and cushions the joint.
Viscosity
The property of a fluid or semi-fluid that causes it to be thick, and resist flowing.
Viscosupplementation
A procedure that restores the shock-absorbing and lubricating properties of the synovial fluid in people with osteoarthritis (of the knee).