Journal Article

Chemonucleolysis with Chondroitin Sulfate ABC Endolyase for Treating Lumbar Disc Herniation: Exploration of Prognostic Factors for Good or Poor Clinical Outcomes

Koga, Hisashi, Inanami, Hirohiko, Takano, Yuichi, Fujita, Muneyoshi, Ishibashi, Katsuhiko, Iwai, Hiroki

2020

Overview

Background and Objectives: Chondroitin sulfate ABC endolyase (condoliase) was launched as a new drug for chemonucleolysis in 2018. Few studies assessed its clinical outcomes, and many important factors remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the preoperative conditions in which condoliase could be highly effective. Materials and Methods: Of 47 patients who received condoliase, 34 were enrolled in this study. The mean age of the patients was 33 years. The average duration since the onset of disease was 8.6 months. We evaluated patients’ low back and leg pain using a numerical rating scale (NRS) score at two time points (before therapy and 3 months after therapy). We divided the patients into two groups (good group (G): NRS score improvement ≥ 50%, poor group (P): NRS score improvement < 50%). The parameters evaluated were age, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), and positive or negative straight leg raising test results. In addition, the loss of disc height and preoperative radiological findings were evaluated. Results: In terms of low back and leg pain, the G group included 9/34 (26.5%) and 21/34 (61.8%) patients, respectively. Patients’ age (low back pain G/P, 21/36.5 years) was significantly lower in the G group for low back pain (p = 0.001). High-intensity change in the protruded nucleus pulposus (NP) and spinal canal occupancy by the NP ≥ 40% were significantly high in those with leg pain in the G groups (14/21, p = 0.04; and 13/21, p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions: The efficacy of improvement in leg pain was significantly correlated with high-intensity change and size of the protruded NP. Condoliase was not significantly effective for low back pain but could have an effect on younger patients.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Adult / Anaphylaxis / chemonucleolysis / Chondroitin ABC Lyase - therapeutic use / Chondroitin sulfate / chondroitin sulfate ABC endolyase / condoliase / Enzymes / Hospitals / Humans / Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis / Intervertebral Disc Displacement - diagnostic imaging / Intervertebral Disc Displacement - drug therapy / Low Back Pain - drug therapy / Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging / lumber disc herniation / Magnetic resonance imaging / Nonparametric statistics / Pain / Prognosis / Treatment Outcome / Young Adult