Comparison of the effects of chronic intra-articular administration of tenoxicam, diclofenac, and methylprednisolone in healthy rats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Lyophilized drug manufacturing and intra-articular (IA) applications have increased to address gastrointestinal side effects resulting from chronic treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for degenerative joint disease. Accordingly, we histologically examined joint and stomach tissues from rats to determine and compare the effects of long-term treatment with an IA corticosteroid (methylprednisolone acetate), lyophilized NSAID (tenoxicam), and non-lyophilized NSAID (diclofenac) following application to the knee joint.

METHODS:

One hundred Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups of 25 rats: control, methylprednisolone, tenoxicam, and diclofenac. Ten IA injections were administered at 1-week intervals. Rats were sacrificed at 48 h and 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after the tenth injection. Histomorphologically, knee joint samples were examined for osteoarthritic changes and stomach tissue samples for gastric changes.

RESULTS:

Unlike methylprednisolone, diclofenac and tenoxicam caused increased fibrosis and fibroblast production; furthermore, chronic methylprednisolone use had no negative effects on the synovium or cartilage.

CONCLUSION:

Chronic tenoxicam and diclofenac use affects joints more negatively than chronic steroid treatment.

• Authors: Mehmet Müfit Orak, Dursun Ak, Ahmet Midi, Berna Laçin, Sevim Purisa, Güven Bulut
• Journal: Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica (Acta Orthop Traumatol Turc) Vol. 49 Issue 4 Pg. 438-46 ( 2015) ISSN: 2589-1294 [Electronic] Turkey
• PMID: 26312474 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Piroxicam
• Diclofenac
• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Methylprednisolone
• tenoxicam

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Cartilage, Articular (pathology)
• Diclofenac (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Female
• Injections, Intra-Articular
• Knee Joint (pathology)
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Osteoarthritis, Knee (pathology)
• Piroxicam (administration & dosage, adverse effects, analogs & derivatives)
• Rats
• Rats, Wistar
• Stomach (pathology)
• Synovial Membrane (pathology)