| abstract |
The present invention relates to a hydrogel obtainable by combining acrylamide and methylene bis-acrylamide in amounts so as to give about 0.5 to 25% by weight polyacrylamide, based on the total weight of the hydrogel; radical initiation; and washing with pyrogen-free water or saline solution for use in the treatment and/or prevention of joint swelling and/or bone oedema in a mammal suffering from arthritis such as osteoarthritis. Preferably, the hydrogel consists of 97.5% apyrogenic water and 2.5% polyacrylamide. The administration of 0.25 ml to 10 ml of the hydrogel is performed by intraarticular injection under sterile conditions. The mammal suffering from arthritis is a preferably a human, a racing animal or a companion animal. If the mammal is a human, the joint or joints which is/are to be injected include the knee, hip, elbow, the metacarpal-phalangeal and interphalangeal joints in hands and feet, the sesamoid joint and/or the temperomandibular joint. If the mammal to be treated is a horse, the joint or joints which is/are to be injected include the fetlock, coffin, pastern, stifle, and/or knee joint of the hind legs. If the mammal to be treated is a dog, the joint or joints which is/are to be injected include the elbow of the front leg or the knee or hip joint of the hind legs. |