Effect of 99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection on morning stiffness duration and tender swollen index of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Among lots of drugs treating rheumatic arthritis, 99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection is a novel one whose anti-inflammation effect is enabled through electronic acquirement or deprivation of technetium.

To observe the effect of 99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection on rheumatic arthritis.

A Traditional Chinese Medicine Department of Xinqiao Hospital Affiliated to the Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.

There were 85 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and admitted to Xinqiao Hospital from March 2000 to December 2001. Sixty-six patients were enrolled in this trial for the manifestation of four or more of the following signs for 6 weeks morning stiffness for at least one hour, more than 3 joints affected, symmetrical arthritis, positive rheumatoid nodules and serum rheumatoid factor, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation and typical X-ray signs of rheumatic arthritis. Among the 66 patients, 23 were males and 43 were females with the age of 18-62 years old(mean 42.23 years) . The course varied from 2 months to 12 years. They were randomly assigned into treatment group and control group with 33 each.

The patients in the treatment group received 99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection injection and oral administration of placebo while those in the control group received placebo injection and oral administration of naproxen for 12 days. The morning stiffness duration, numbers of tender joints and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation, C reactive protein, rheumatoid factor and total effective rate in the two groups were recorded and compared to assess the therapeutic effect.MAIN OUTCOME

The morning stiffness duration, numbers of tender joints and swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation, C reactive protein and rheumatoid factor in the two groups and adverse effect of 99Tc met hylenediphosphonate injection.

According to intention to deal with the analysis, none of the 66 duration and the reduction in the number of tender and swollen joints in the treatment group were better than those in the control group[ (70.39 ± 40. 32) minute, (3.27±2.21), (3.20±2.38) vs(35.82±24.65) minute,erythrocyte sedimentation, C reactive protein and rheumatoid factor in the two significantly higher than that(64% ) in control group(X2 = 4. 89, P ＜ 0.05).

99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection is better than naproxen in ameliorating articular swelling and tenderness as well as morning stiffness of rheumatic arthritis while the effect of 99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection on erythrocyte sedimentation, C reactive protein and rheumatoid factor was similar to that of naproxen.Huang WQ. Effect of 99Tc methylenediphosphonate injection on morning stiffness duration and tender swollen index of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.