Resumo Objetivos: Avaliar variáveis articulares locais após a injeção intra-articular (IIA) de hexacetonido de triancinolona (HT) em pacientes com artrite reumatoide (AR). Métodos: Avaliaram-se de modo cego e prospectivo (inicial, 1, 4, 12 e 24 semanas) as articulações metacarpofalângica (MCF), punho, cotovelo, ombro, joelho e tornozelo após a IIA de HT à procura das seguintes medidas de desfecho: escala visual analógica (EVA) de 0 a 10 cm para dor em repouso (EVAr); EVA para dor ao movimento (EVAm); EVA para inchaço das articulações (EVAi); flexão (FlexG) e extensão (ExtG). Resultados; Estudaram-se 289 pacientes (635 articulações). A EVAi (p < 0,001) e a EVAr (0,001 < p < 0,016) melhoraram de T0 a T4, T12 e T24 em todas as articulações. A EVAm melhorou de T0-T4 (p < 0,021) em todas as articulações; T0-T12 (p < 0,023) na MCF e no joelho; T0-T24 (p < 0,019) apenas na MCF e no joelho. A FlexG melhorou de T0-T4 (p < 0,001) em todas as articulações; T0-T12 (p < 0,001) e T0-T24 (p < 0,02) apenas na MCF e no joelho. A ExtG melhorou de T0-T4 (p < 0,001) em todas as articulações, exceto no cotovelo; T0-T12 (p = 0,003) no punho, na MCF e no joelho; e T0-T24 (p = 0,014) na MCF e no joelho. Conclusão: A EVAi respondeu melhor em curto e médio prazos após a IIA de HT na presente amostra de pacientes com AR.

Abstract Objectives: 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 0–10 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 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. Conclusion: VASSw responded better at short and medium term after IAI with triamcinolone hexacetonide in our sample of RA patients.

Objetivos: Identificar fatores preditivos de resposta à infiltração intra-articular (IIA) com triancinolona hexacetonida (TH). Métodos: Este estudo foi realizado em pacientes de artrite reumatóide (AR) (segundo critérios do American College of Rheumatology) submetidos à IIA (infiltração mono, pauci ou poliarticular). Avaliação: Um observador “cego” avaliou prospectivamente as articulações uma semana (T1), quatro semanas (T4), 12 semanas (T12) e 24 semanas (T24) após IIA. As medidas de desfecho foram Escala Visual Analógica (0-10 cm) em repouso, em movimento e para articulações edemaciadas. As variáveis clínicas e demográficas e aquelas relacionadas à infiltração no início do estudo foram analisadas de acordo com a resposta à IIA. Resultados: Foram estudados 289 pacientes com AR (635 articulações) com média de idade de 48,7 (± 10,68) anos; 48,5% eram caucasianos, EVA para dor global = 6,52 (± 1,73). Na análise univariada, as variáveis relativas às melhores respostas em seguida à IIA (melhora >70%) foram: “IIA no cotovelo e metacarpofalangeanas (MCF)” e “classe funcional II”. Na análise multivariada, “homens” e “não brancos” foram os preditores com melhor resposta à IIA na T4, enquanto “IIA no cotovelo e MCF”, “infiltração poliarticular”, “uso de metotrexato” e “dose total maior de TH” obtiveram a melhor resposta na T24. Conclusão: Foram identificados diversos fatores preditivos de boa resposta à IIA em pacientes com AR. Os preditores de melhor resposta para IIA de TH em longo prazo foram “aplicar IIA no cotovelo e MCF” e “aplicar infiltração poliarticular”.

Objectives: Identify good response predictors to intra-articular injection (IAI) with triamcinolone hexacetonide (TH). Methods: This study was carried out in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) submitted to IAI (mono, pauci or polyarticular injection). Assessment: a “blinded” observer prospectively evaluated joints at one week (T1), four weeks (T4), twelve weeks (T12) and 24 weeks (T24) after IAI. Outcome measurements included Visual Analogue Scale (0-10 cm) at rest, in movement and for swollen joints. Clinical, demographic and variables related to injection at baseline were analyzed according to IAI response. Results: We studied 289 patients with RA (635 joints) with a mean age of 48.7 years (±10.68), 48.5% of them Caucasians, VAS for global pain = 6.52 (±1.73). Under univariate analysis, the variables relating the best responses following IAI (improvement > 70%) were: “elbow and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) IAI, and functional class II”. Under multivariate analysis, “males” and “non-whites” were the predictors with the best response to IAI at T4, while “elbow and MCP IAI”, “polyarticular injection”, “use of methotrexate” and “higher total dose of TH” obtained the best response at T24. Conclusion: Several predictors of good response to IAI in patients with RA were identified. The best-response predictors for TH IAI of long term were “inject elbow and MCP IAI” and “perform polyarticular injection”.

OBJETIVOS: Comparar a curto prazo (04 semanas) a efetividade das infiltrações intra-articulares (IIA) guiadas por fluoroscopia (FC) e ultrassom (US) em pacientes com enfermidades reumáticas. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo controlado e prospectivo em pacientes portadores de doenças reumáticas captados dos ambulatórios da Disciplina de Reumatologia da Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brasil. Critério de inclusão: adultos com indicação de IIA com corticosteróide por sinovite refratária. Todos os pacientes forma infiltrados com hexacetonide triancinolona (20 mg/mL) com doses variáveis, de acordo com a articulação estudada. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 71 pacientes (52 mulheres; 44 brancos), portadores de enfermidades reumáticas variadas. A média de idade era 51,9 ± 13 anos e 47 deles (66,2%) faziam uso de drogas modificadora do curso da doença (DMARD). Na análise global da amostra (71 pacientes) e na subanálise coxofemoral (23 pacientes), observou-se melhora estatística (p < 0,001) em ambos os grupos quanto à EVA de dor. Na análise global observou-se aumento significativo da flexão articular (p < 0,001) e um Δ de flexão maior a favor do grupo guiado por FC. A avaliação de melhora segundo Likert Scale mostrou diferença significativa (p < 0,05) entre os grupos na avaliação global, nas proporções inalterado e melhor, a favor do grupo guiado por US. Não foi observada diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos para qualquer outra variável. CONCLUSÃO: A IIA guiada por imagem melhorou a dor regional, a curto prazo, relacionada à sinovite de vários tipos de articulações. Para a grande maioria das variáveis avaliadas não houve diferença entre a efetividade da IIA guiada por US ou FC.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the effectiveness of ultrasound and fluoroscopy to guide intra-articular injections (IAI) in selected cases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective study in our outpatient clinics at the Rheumatology Division at Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil, was conducted to compare the short-term (4 weeks) effectiveness of ultrasound and fluoroscopy-guided IAI in patients with rheumatic diseases. Inclusion criteria were: adults with refractory synovitis undergoing IAI with glucocorticoid. All patients had IAI performed with triamcinolone hexacetonide (20mg/ml) with varying doses according to the joint injected. RESULTS: A total of 71 rheumatic patients were evaluated (52 women, 44 whites). Mean age was 51.9 ± 13 years and 47 of them (66.2%) were on regular DMARD use. Analysis of the whole sample (71 patients) and hip sub-analysis (23 patients) showed that significant improvement was observed for both groups in terms of pain (P < 0.001). Global analysis also demonstrated better outcomes for patients in the FCG in terms of joint flexion (P < 0.001) and percentage change in joint flexion as compared to the USG. Likert scale score analyses demonstrated better results for the patients in the USG as compared to the FCG at the end of the study (P < 0.05). No statistically significant difference between groups was observed for any other study variable. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Imaging-guided IAI improves regional pain in patients with various types of synovitis in the short term. For the vast majority of variables, no significant difference in terms of effectiveness was observed between fluoroscopy and ultrasoundguided IAI.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness of Samarium153-particulate hydroxyapatite radiation synovectomy in rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic knee synovitis. METHODS: Fifty-eight rheumatoid arthritis patients (60 knees) with chronic knee synovitis participated in a controlled double-blinded trial. Patients were randomized to receive either an intra-articular injection with 40 mg triamcinolone hexacetonide alone (TH group) or 40 mg triamcinolone hexacetonide combined with 15 mCi Samarium153-particulate hydroxyapatite (Sm/TH group). Blinded examination at baseline (T0) and at 1 (T1), 4 (T4), 12 (T12), 32 (T32), and 48 (T48) weeks post-intervention were performed on all patients and included a visual analog scale for joint pain and swelling as well as data on morning stiffness, flexion, extension, knee circumference, Likert scale of improvement, percentage of improvement, SF-36 generic quality of life questionnaire, Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Lequesne index, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or oral corticosteroids, events and adverse effects, calls to the physician, and hospital visits. RESULTS: The sample was homogeneous at baseline, and there were no withdrawals. Improvement was observed in both groups in relation to T0, but no statistically significant differences between groups were observed regarding all variables at the time points studied. The Sm/TH group exhibited more adverse effects at T1 (p<0.05), but these were mild and transitory. No severe adverse effects were reported during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Intra-articular injection of Samarium153-particulate hydroxyapatite (15 mCi) with 40 mg of triamcinolone hexacetonide is not superior to triamcinolone hexacetonide alone for the treatment of knee synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis at 1 y of follow-up.