Intra-articular methylprednisolone acetate injection at the knee joint and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: a randomized controlled study.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of intra-articular corticosteroid injection (IACI) of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the knee who failed to respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy were randomized between group 1 and group 2. Group 1 patients had an IACI of 80 mg of MPA at the knee joint and group 2 patients had an intra-articular injection (IAI) of 6 ml (60 mg) of sodium hyaluronate (control group). Immediately prior to the IAI and on weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 following IAI, patients from both groups underwent a low-dose (1 μg) adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) stimulation test. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiologic variables were documented in all patients. Both criteria of <7 μg/dl increase in the serum cortisol level and absolute levels of <18 μg/dl 30 min following the ACTH stimulation test were used to define secondary adrenal insufficiency (SAI). Twenty patients were randomized in each group. In group 1, 25 % of patients had SAI vs. none in group 2 (p = 0.0471). The earliest SAI was observed at week 2, and latest SAI was observed at week 4. SAI was observed at one time point, two consecutive time points, or two separate time points in the same patient. There was no correlation between SAI and any of the demographic, clinical, or laboratory variables. An IACI of 80 mg MPA at the knee joint induced a transient SAI in 25 % of the patients, an effect that was observed between week 2 and week 4 following the IACI.

• Authors: George Habib, Adel Jabbour, Suheil Artul, Geries Hakim
• Journal: Clinical rheumatology (Clin Rheumatol) Vol. 33 Issue 1 Pg. 99-103 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1434-9949 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 23982564 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• Hyaluronic Acid
• Hydrocortisone
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Adrenal Insufficiency (diagnosis)
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (blood)
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (administration & dosage)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyaluronic Acid (administration & dosage)
• Hydrocortisone (blood)
• Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System (drug effects)
• Injections, Intra-Articular
• Knee Joint (drug effects)
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Middle Aged
• Osteoarthritis, Knee (drug therapy)
• Pituitary-Adrenal System (drug effects)
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Time Factors