Intra-articular injection of high molecular weight hyaluronan after arthrocentesis as treatment for rheumatoid knees with joint effusion.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to find if a complete synovial fluid aspiration before injection of intra-articular high molecular weight hyaluronan influences the treatment result for knees with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including joint effusion and the prognostic factors related to clinical effect.


METHODS
The arthritic knees including effusion were randomized to arthrocentesis or no arthrocentesis before the hyaluronan (1.9-2.5 x 10(6)) was injected into knee joints five times every week. All patients were followed up for 6 months.


RESULTS
One hundred eighteen RA patients (80 knees in the arthrocentesis group, 81 knees in the no-arthrocentesis group) were included. The proportion of no relapses in the arthrocentesis group was higher than that in the no-arthrocentesis group. In the arthrocentesis group, regression analysis showed that duration of knee arthritis (<5 months), CRP (<4 mg/dl), and Larsen grade (<grade II) were the significant predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
Arthrocentesis is effective in reducing the risk for arthritis relapse by intra-articular hyaluronan injection to rheumatoid knees with joint effusion. Predicting responders are duration of knee arthritis, CRP, and radiological scores.
Tanaka
Nobuyuki
N
Rheumatology Unit, Sapporo Gorinbashi Orthopedic Hospital in Gorinbashi Hospitals, 2-1, Kawazoe, Minami-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 005-0802, Japan.
Sakahashi
Hisashi
H
Sato
Eiichi
E
Hirose
Kazuya
K
Ishima
Takumi
T
Ishii
Seiichi
S
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D001182:Arthroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D013585:Synovitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid