Synovial perfusion of clinically normal knee joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. An isotope study.

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic disease that leads to disability of patients. The use of the whole-body cryotherapy treatment for RA patients provides analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects and improves their efficiency. Aim: Assessment of the effect of the whole-body cryotherapy treatment on the functional state of knee joints for patients with RA. Material and Method: The study was conducted on a group of 30 RA patients, who underwent a series of 10 whole-body cryotherapy treatment. The effectiveness and efficiency of the applied therapy was assessed on the basis of: the VAS scale, the Laitinen scale, the assessment of the range of motion, muscle strength with the MicroFet dynamometer and the Up and Go test. Results: As a result of the applied whole-body cryotherapy treatment, a reduction in the intensity of pain, measured with the VAS scale and the Laitinen scale, and a reduction in the duration of morning stiffness by about 55% were found. There was an increase in the range of motion and muscle strength. The time needed to perform the Up and Go test was reduced by 17%. Conclusions: The whole-body cryotherapy treatment is an effective analgesic method of physiotherapy for patients with RA. It provides an improvement in the functional state, increases the range of motion, muscle strength and improves the gait function.

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Substance p (SP), neurokinin a (NKA), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in synovial fluid from knee joints in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis

Pain ◽

10.1016/0304-3959(90)92169-q ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 41 ◽

pp. S16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. Larsson ◽

A. Ekblom ◽

K. Henriksson ◽

T. Lundeberg ◽

E. Theodorsson

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Substance P ◽

Synovial Fluid ◽

Neuropeptide Y ◽

Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ◽

Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide ◽

Knee Joints ◽

Neurokinin A ◽

Related Peptide ◽

Calcitonin Gene

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Isotope Studies in Normal and Diseased Knee Joints: 99mTc Uptake Related to Clinical Assessment and to Synovial Perfusion Measured by the 133Xe Clearance Technique

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs0400327 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 327-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

W. C. Dick ◽

S. D. Deodhar ◽

Carol J. Provan ◽

G. Nuki ◽

W. W. Buchanan

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Normal Subjects ◽

Knee Joints ◽

133Xe Clearance ◽

Normal Limits ◽

Human Volunteers ◽

Normal Human ◽

Clinical Indices ◽

Isotope Studies ◽

The Mean

1. Uptake of intravenously administered radioactive technetium (99mTc) was measured over the knee joints in normal human volunteers, in patients with osteoarthritis and in groups of synovectomized and unoperated patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The uptake was compared with clinical indices of inflammation (pain, tenderness swelling and stiffness), and the clearance rate of intra-articularly injected radioactive xenon (133Xe). The 99mTc uptakes were found to be unrelated to the isotope dose and the day-to-day reproducibility was acceptable. 2. The mean uptake of 99mTc was within normal limits in osteoarthritis. Both in synovectomized and in unoperated rheumatoid arthritis 99mTc uptake was significantly higher than in normal subjects. 3. Of the clinical indices studied significant correlation of 99mTc uptake was found with pain and swelling in all groups of patients studied. 4. Faster clearance of 133Xe in unoperated rheumatoid arthritis correlated well with the higher 99mTc uptakes. 5. The results confirm that 99mTc uptakes are raised in inflammatory arthritis but not in degenerative arthritis. The relation of 99mTc uptake to the clinical indices of inflammation and to the 133Xe clearance from the joint is discussed.

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