Intra-articular injection with triamcinolone hexacetonide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: prospective assessment of goniometry and joint inflammation parameters

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate local joint variables after intra-articular injection (IAI) with triamcinolone hexacetonide (HT) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods: We blindly and prospectively (baseline, 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks) evaluated metacarpophalangeal (MCP), wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee and ankle joints after HT IAI by the following outcome measures: Visual analogue scale 0-10 cm (VAS) for rest pain (VASR)

VAS for movement pain (VASM)

VAS for joint swelling (VASSw)

flexion (FlexG) and extension (ExtG). Results: 289 patients (635 joints) were studied. VASSw (p < 0,001) and VASR (0,001< p < 0.016) improved from TO to T4, T12 and T24 for all joints. VASM improved from TO-T4 (p < 0.021) for all joints

TO-T12 (p < 0.023) for MCF and knee

TO-T24 (p < 0.019) only for MCF and knee. FlexG improved from TO-T4 (p < 0.001) for all joints

TO-T12 (p < 0.001) and TO-T24 (p < 0.02) only for MCF and knee. ExtG improved from TO-T4 (p < 0.001) for all joints except for elbow

TO-T12 (p = 0.003) for wrist, MCP and knee

and TO-T24 (p = 0.014) for MCF and knee. Conclusion: VASSw responded better at short and medium term after IAI with HT in our sample of RA patients. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.