Dose-Related Effects of Steroid on the Experimental Arthritis in Rabbits.
- Author:
Joon Yong BAK
1
;
Jae Seung KIM
;
Bong Hee KIM
;
Ji Ho LEE
;
Kyung Hoi AHN
Author Information
1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nuclear Medicine.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cartilage;
Experimental arthritis;
Steroid
- MeSH:
Adult;
Arthritis*;
Cartilage;
Coloring Agents;
Edema;
Humans;
Injections, Intra-Articular;
Knee;
Knee Joint;
Male;
Rabbits*;
Tibia;
Triamcinolone Acetonide;
Weight Loss;
Zymosan
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine
2001;25(2):284-289
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To investigate dose-related effects of repeated intraarticular steroid injection on the experimental arthritis. METHOD: Twenty-four adult male rabbits received Zymosan A into their right knee joint for experimental arthritis. After a week, they were injected with 2 mg (group I; n=9), 10 mg (group II; n=7) or 20 mg (group III; n=8) triamcinolone acetonide into their right knee weekly interval for 4 weeks. We measured weekly changes of the weight and the mediolateral diameter of both knees for the calculation of edema index. 99mTechnetium pertechnate (99mTc) uptake measurement were performed before the first steroid injection and a week after the final steroid injection. All rabbits were sacrificed and histologic examinations of their proximal tibia were performed. RESULTS: A progressive weight loss and changes of edema index were evident for all rabbits (p<0.05) and difference among the groups was not found (p<0.05). 99mTc uptake significantly decreased after the steroid injection in group I (p<0.05) but it was not profound in others (p>0.05). In the histological findings, fibrillation-frayings and fissures of the surface were similar in all rabbits, but loss of nuclear stains and cyst formations were increased prominently in group III than group I (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Low-dose repeated steroid intraarticular injections are safe and effective treatment in arthritis though no definite evidence of chondroprotection, and high-dose steroid injections accelerate degeneration of the arthritic cartilage.
