Ameliorative effects of 99Tc-methylene diphosphonate on the articular gall symptoms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Chuan ZUO; Nanping YANG; Yongtao CHEN

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

It is always the key issue of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) to treat articular gall. A kind of medicine with favorable therapeutic effects and safety is urgently needed in the clinics. 99Tc-methylene diphosphonate 99(Tc-MDP) receives generalized attentions on its therapeutic effects and safety since its application into RA therapy.

OBJECTIVE:

To explore the characters of 99Tc-MDP in the amelioration of articular dysfunction in RA patients.

DESIGN:

A before-and-after controlled study by employing patients as subjects.

SETTING:

Department of rheumatism and immunology of an affiliated hospital of a university.

PARTICIPANTS:

Totally 67 patients with RA at active phase including 11males and 56 females aged between 29 and 71 years old with the course of disease between 9 and 78 months and admitted by the Department of Rheumatism of Huaxi Hospital Affiliated to Sichuan University were in accordance with the RA diagnostic criteria established by American Rheumatism Association(ARA) in 1987. Serious heart,liver or kidney dysfunction,active gastrointestinal pathological changes, hematology and endocrinology diseases,allergic complexion,and women during pregnancy or breast-feeding period were eliminated.

METHODS:

Clinical indicators including articular edema index, articular pain,grip,morning stiffness duration,rest pain,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein(CRP) were compared before and after therapy in 67 cases received 99Tc-MDP treatment. Integrated evaluation was performed after the completion of therapy. Effective meant 30% of improvement in symptoms and physical signs,and reduction in ESR and CRP. Side effects were observed and recorded simultaneously. Data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS:

After 99Tc-MDP treatment,RA condition significantly improved,as well as each clinical indicator including articular edema index,articular pain index,morning stiffness duration,rest pain,ESR and CRP(P<0.05) . The total clinical effective rate of this medicine was 81% and the incidence of side effects was small and mild.

CONCLUSION:

99Tc-MDP can ameliorate the articular dysfunction of RApatients,which is a safe medicine with strong effect.