title: Is osteoarthritis an infection-associated disease and a target for chemotherapy?
abstract: The treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) continues to be a challenge, and current treatment modalities are disappointing. New approaches in therapy may be developed as a result of evidence of the involvement of inflammatory cytokines in the progression of OA. Cotrimoxazole (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) was noted to have anti-inflammatory properties and has been used in the therapy of several autoimmune diseases. Analyzing our own and world experience, we propose that OA and degenerative joint and spine disease might be infection-associated diseases and a target for sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim therapy.
authors.affiliation: B. Shine Department of Rheumatology, Rambam Medical Center, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel. a_rozin@ambam.health.gov.il
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rozin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002356:Cartilage / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007239:Infections / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination