Triamcinolone acetonide extended-release in patients with osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes: a randomized, phase 2 study

Objective. Approximately 30% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have knee osteoarthritis. IA corticosteroids used to manage osteoarthritis pain can elevate blood glucose in these patients. We compared blood glucose levels following intra-articular injection of triamcinolone acetonide extended-release (TA-ER), an extended-release, microsphere-based triamcinolone acetonide formulation, vs standard triamcinolone acetonide crystalline suspension (TAcs) in patients with knee osteoarthritis and comorbid type 2 diabetes.

Methods. In this double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, phase 2 study (NCT02762370), 33 patients with knee osteoarthritis (American College of Rheumatology criteria) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (HbA1c 6.59.0% [4875 mmol/mol]; 12 oral hypoglycaemic agents) were treated with intra-articular TA-ER (32 mg n = 18) or TAcs 40 mg (n = 15). Continuous glucose monitoring-measured glucose (CGMG) was assessed from 1 week pre-injection through 2 weeks postinjection. Endpoints included change in average daily CGMG from baseline (days 3 to 1) to days 13 postinjection (CGMGdays13) (primary) and percent time average hourly CGMG levels remained in prespecified glycaemic ranges.

Results. The change CGMGdays13 was significantly lower following TA-ER vs TAcs (14.7 vs 33.9 mg/dl, least-squaresmean-difference [95% CI]: 19.2 [38.0, 0.4]; P = 0.0452). The percentage of time over days 13 that CGMG was in the target glycaemic range (70180 mg/dl) was numerically greater for TA-ER (63.3%) vs TAcs (49.7%), and that CGMG was >180 mg/dl was lower for TA-ER (34.5%) vs TAcs (49.9%). Non-glycaemic adverse events were mild and comparable between groups.

Conclusion. TA-ER may enable intra-articular corticosteroid treatment with minimal blood glucose disruption in patients with knee osteoarthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Trial registration. ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02762370.