Intra-articular injection with triamcinolone hexacetonide in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: prospective assessment of goniometry and joint inflammation parameters.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate local joint variables after intra-articular injection with triamcinolone hexacetonide in rheumatoid arthritis patients.


METHODS
We blindly and prospectively (baseline, 1, 4, 12 and 24 weeks) evaluated metacarpophalangeal, wrist, elbow, shoulder, knee and ankle joints after triamcinolone hexacetonide intra-articular injection by the following outcome measures: visual analogue scale 0-10cm (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 T0 to T4, T12 and T24 for all joints. VASM improved from T0 to T4 (p<0.021) for all joints; T0 to T12 (p<0.023) for MCF and knee; T0 to T24 (p<0.019) only for MCF and knee. FlexG improved from T0 to T4 (p<0.001) for all joints; T0 to T12 (p<0.001) and T0 to T24 (p<0.02) only for MCF and knee. ExtG improved from T0 to T4 (p<0.001) for all joints except for elbow; T0 to T12 (p=0.003) for wrist, metacarpophalangeal and knee; and T0 to T24 (p=0.014) for MCF and knee.


CONCLUSIONS
VASSw responded better at short and medium term after IAI with triamcinolone hexacetonide in our sample of RA patients.
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: rvfurtado@hotmail.com.
Rita Nely Vilar
RNV
Furtado
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Flávia Soares
FS
Machado
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Karine Rodrigues da
KRD
Luz
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Marla Francisca Dos
MFD
Santos
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Monique Sayuri
MS
Konai
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Roberta Vilela
RV
Lopes
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Disciplina de Reumatologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Jamil
J
Natour
D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; C005900:triamcinolone hexacetonide
Artrite reumatoide; Improvement; Injeções intra-articulares; Intra-articular injections; Melhoria; Rheumatoid arthritis; Triamcinolona; Triamcinolone