Significance of radiosynoviorthesis of medium and small joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

1831 Objectives To point out a treatment asset and to describe our experience with radiosynoviorthesis (RSO) in the therapy of medium and small joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods We included 105 patients treated for RA from 2002 to 2007. An inclusion criterion was joint destruction - Larsen stages II and III. Totally we treated 76 medium joints with 74 MBq 186Re sulfide and 80 small joints with 10-40 MBq 169Er citrate. A treatment effect was evaluated 6 and 12 months after RSO, comparison was done with initial state. A change of inflammation activity was assessed by means of ultrasonography, pain withdrawal, joint swelling, and motion. Statistical processing was accomplished by means of Chi-square test. Results The best results were reached in pain reduction, the lowest succcess was noticed in motion modification. In treated joints the best success was observed in shoulders and elbows. The ankles had the least therapeutic answer. It was possible to observe a gradual decrease of therapeutic effect between 6 and 12 months after RSO, especially in pain (P Conclusions RSO is a suitable treatment alternative of chronic synovitis with low potential of adverse effects, although with transient results.