Treatment of rheumatoid joint inflammation with intrasynovial triamcinolone hexacetonide.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the effectiveness of intrasynovial triamcinolone hexacetonide coupled with joint rest (3 weeks upper extremity; 6 weeks lower extremity) in the treatment of joint and tendon sheath inflammation in patients with seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS:

The medical records of 169 patients with seropositive RA treated by a single rheumatologist for at least one year between 1974 and 1992 were abstracted.

RESULTS:

Nine hundred fifty-six injections were given to 140 patients; approximately 75% of injected synovial structures remained in remission during a mean followup 7 years; 218 injections were given into previously treated structures. The injection rate was about 2 per patient in the first year, half of which were given at the time of the first visit. The rate then approximated 0.6 injections per patient-year for the next 15 years. Joints in the right upper extremity were injected significantly (p = 0.01) more frequently than those on the left.

CONCLUSION:

Intrasynovial triamcinolone hexacetonide followed by rest is a very useful adjunctive modality in the treatment of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis.

• Authors: D J McCarty, J G Harman, J L Grassanovich, C Qian
• Journal: The Journal of rheumatology (J Rheumatol) Vol. 22 Issue 9 Pg. 1631-5 (Sep 1995) ISSN: 0315-162X [Print] Canada
• PMID: 8523335 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Triamcinolone Acetonide
• triamcinolone hexacetonide

Topics

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy)
• Bed Rest
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Injections, Intra-Articular
• Remission Induction
• Treatment Outcome
• Triamcinolone Acetonide (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)