title: A double-blind randomized comparative study of triamcinolone hexacetonide and dexamethasone intra-articular injection for the treatment of knee joint arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Intra-articular glucocorticoid (GC) injection has been used for more than half a century in the treatment of refractory synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are limited data about the efficacy of intra-articular injection of various preparations of GCs on inflamed joint. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and side effects of intra-articular injection of dexamethasone (DEX) and triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH) in the treatment of knee joint arthritis in RA. In a double-blind randomized clinical trial, 70 patients with RA and knee joint arthritis were recruited to the study. Swelled knee joints were injected with 40 mg TH or 8 mg DEX randomly. The primary outcome measures were reduction of knee joint swelling and pain 1 and 3 weeks after joint injection. The secondary outcome measures were relapse of knee arthritis at 2, 4, and 6 months after injection and side effects of intra-articular injection. Difference in the knee circumferences between DEX and TH groups at weeks 1 and 3 was not significant. The average times of pain reduction after injection were 3.4 ± 2.3 and 2.3 ± 1.8 days in TH and DEX, respectively. There were no differences of knee pain between the two groups. Relapse of knee arthritis was occurred in two (6.7 %) and three (9.4 %) patients in the DEX and TH groups, respectively. Intra-articular injection of DEX like TH causes rapid and long-term reduction of knee pain and swelling in patients with RA and is safe.
authors: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Mehrzad
authors: M
authors: Hajialilo
authors: Biotechnology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Amir
authors: A
authors: Ghorbanihaghjo
authors: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Leyla
authors: L
authors: Valaee
authors: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Sousan
authors: S
authors: Kolahi
authors: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Naderh
authors: N
authors: Rashtchizadeh
authors: Drug Applied Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Maryam Bannazadeh
authors: MB
authors: Amirkhiz
authors: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors: Ida
authors: I
authors: Malekmahdavi
authors: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. dr_khabbazi@yahoo.com.
authors: Alireza
authors: A
authors: Khabbazi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069237:Arthrocentesis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; C005900:triamcinolone hexacetonide
keywords: Arthrocentesis; Dexamethasone; Rheumatoid arthritis; Triamcinolone hexacetonide