The osteoarthritis is a disease with high epidemiological, social, and economic impact in health systems. Its treatment has been focused on diminishing pain and inflammation joint; in last years there has appeared on the market a series of drugs that, in studies in vitro show mechanisms of action that might have a modifying effect of disease, since they diminish the proinflammatory cytokines and metalloproteinases involved in degradation of cartilage matrix and it have effect in anti-apoptotics mechanisms in chondrocyte. Clinical studies have showed efficacy against pain and improving joint function; some studies have showed that there is not loss of joint space evaluated by conventional x-ray with longitudinal follow-up of patients. We describe new in vitro action mechanisms of theses new drugs and the clinical evidence of its efficacy in symptoms and potentially modifying effect of the natural history of osteoarthritis.
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