Dynamics of synovitis activity after intraarticular administration of xefocam in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of intra-articular injection of lornoxicam (xefocam, Nycomed) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Xefocam was injected into knee joints of 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 8 mg once a week for the period of 3 weeks. The following parameters were assessed: pronouncement of arthralgia, joint tenderness at palpation, circumference of knee joint on the level of the upper patellar margin. Prior and post treatment ultrasonography and thermography were used. Significant clinical improvement was observed in 11 patients. In 3 cases the dynamics was less positive and in 1 patients the effect of single dose drug injection was preserved for less than one week. Arthralgia manifestation (p<0.01), joint tenderness at palpation (p<0.01) and joint circumference (p<0.05) showed reliable decrease. Ultrasonography showed reliable decrease the synovial membrane thickness. Xefocam injection could be successfully used to suppress moderate inflammatory joint changes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis when there are no strict indications to local steroid therapy.