ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of colchicine combined with etofenamate cream in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis. MethodsA total of 150 patients diagnosed with acute gouty arthritis from June 2013 to July 2014 were equally randomized to receive colchicine alone (group A), colchicine with etofenamate cream (group B) and colchicine with etoricoxib (group C). The assessment on joint pain, tenderness, health quality and clinical efficacy of patients in each group was carried out, and the results were compared before and 7 days after the treatment. ResultsBecause of adverse events, the number of patients who withdrew from group A, B and C was respectively 2, 3 and 7. So the actual number of patients completing the study was 48 for group A, 47 for group B and 43 for group C. The patients' and physicians' assessments of mean change in pain intensity from baseline over days 1-7 were comparable in each group, with no statistical significance between groups (P>0.05). The patients' assessment of response to treatment was the highest in the colchicine with etofenamate cream group, and the differences compared with other two groups were significant (P=0.012 and 0.025, respectively). The physicians' global assessment of response to treatment showed no statistical significance between groups (F=0.021, P=0.908). The joint tenderness was most improved in colchicine with etoricoxib group, and the differences compared with other two groups were significant (P=0.041 and 0.034, respectively). The assessments of health quality were similar between groups. The C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were decreased at study-end in all groups, but statistically significant differences were only found between group A and C (P<0.05). The incidence rate of adverse events was the highest in colchicine with etoricoxib group and the difference from other two groups was significant (P<0.05). ConclusionColchicine with etofenamate cream is as effective as colchicine with etoricoxib for treating acute gout and may have a better safety and tolerability profile.
ObjectiveTo analyze the correlation of thrombopoietin (TPO) and anti-TPO antibody with thrombocytopenia in patients with primary Sjögren syndrome (PSS). MethodsWe included in our study 40 PSS patients with thrombocytopenia (group A), 22 PSS patients who once had thrombocytopenia and returned to normal (group B), 40 PSS patients with normal platelet counts (group C) and 40 healthy controls (group D) between September 2013 and October 2014. Anti-TPO antibody was detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and serum TPO levels were measured by ELISA. We analyzed the relationship between the assay results and the clinical manifestations and parameters. ResultsThe serum TPO levels in groups A, B, and C were (129.74±17.47) , (330.23±18.07) and (364.19±12.25) pg/mL, respectively, and they were significantly higher than that in group D [(54.04±10.71) pg/mL] (P ＜ 0.05) . The serum level of TPO was positively correlated with CRP and IgA (rs=0.224, P=0.039; rs=0.239, P=0.033) , and was negatively correlated with C4 level (rs=?0.220, P=0.041) , but it was not significantly correlated with platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the level of antiphospholipid antibodies and the titer of antinuclear antibodies (P ＞ 0.05) . The positive rate of PSS patients was 20.59% (21/102) and the rate in groups A, B, and C was respectively 17.5% (7/40) , 22.72% (5/22) , and 22.5% (9/40) . There was no statistically significant difference between the positive and negative groups in various clinical indexes (P ＞ 0.05) . ConclusionAntiTPO antibody may not be the main mechanism of thrombocytopenia in PSS patients, and there is a certain correlation between TPO and inflammatory factors.
ObjectiveTo compare the clinical efficacy of glucosamine hydrochloride and diacerein for patients with knee osteoarthritis and the MRI variation. MethodsBetween January and June 2014, 90 patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomized into three groups: group A (treated by glucosamine hydrochloride), group B (treated by diacerein) and group C (treated by both glucosamine hydrochloride and diacerein). The score of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) index of osteoarthritis, MRI cartilage injury Recht grading and the curative effects for bone marrow edema, joint cavity effusion and meniscus injury were compared before and after the treatment. ResultsThe scores of WOMAC after treatment in all the groups were improved, while the therapeutic effect of group C lasted longer when medical treatment suspended. The number of articular surface with different degrees of cartilage injury showed no statistically significant change in all three groups (P ＞ 0.05) . The state of bone marrow edema and joint cavity effusion were improved with a statistically significant difference in all groups (P ＜ 0.05) . Patients with lateral meniscus degeneration in group A and patients with medial meniscal tear in group B both increased with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) . However, in group C, patients with lateral meniscus degeneration or meniscal tear decreased with statistically significant differences (P ＜ 0.05) . ConclusionsThe treatment for osteoarthritis by glucosamine hydrochloride is effective, and the curative effect lasts longer when treated by both glucosamine hydrochloride and diacerein. Glucosamine hydrochloride ameliorates the bone marrow edema and joint cavity effusion. Treatment together with diacerein leads to a better therapeutic effect for patients with meniscus degeneration, yet further studies are needed to prove its effects in ameliorating cartilage injury.
ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy of self-behavior management combined with glucosamine hydrochloride for patients with early knee osteoarthritis. MethodsBetween October 2013 and March 2015, 240 patients with early knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to behavior therapy group (n=80) , drug treatment group (n=80) and combined treatment group (n=80) . Patients in the behavior therapy group were treated only by self-behavior management; patients in the drug treatment group were treated by glucosamine hydrochloride (0.48 g, three times per day); patients in the combined treatment group were treated by self-behavior management combined with glucosamine hydrochloride. The effect of treatment, adverse reactions, efficiency and expulsion rate were assessed 4, 8 and 12 weeks after treatment. ResultsThe Lequesne index and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) significantly decreased from week 4 when compared with week 0 after treatment in the combined treatment group, and there was a significant difference between the combined treatment group and single therapy group at week 8 and 12 (P ＜ 0.05) . The Lequesne index in the behavior therapy group and drug treatment group began to significantly decrease from week 8, and the WOMAC score significantly decreased from week 4 in the drug treatment group and from week 8 in the behavior therapy group. The efficiency increased with the treatment time prolonged in all three groups, but the efficiency in the combined treatment group was significantly higher than the single therapy group (P ＜ 0.05) . The shedding rates in the behavior therapy group, drug treatment group and combined treatment group were respectively 12.5%, 7.5% and 6.3%, without statistically significant difference (P ＞ 0.05) . The adverse reaction rate was low in all the three groups. ConclusionThe self-behavior management combined with glucosamine hydrochloride is an effective, safe and well-tolerated treatment for early knee osteoarthritis.