Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Radioactive synoviorthesis by injection of safe radioisotopes into the joints affected to chronic arthritis is accounted as a novel method to treat haemophilic arthropathy. The main goal of this therapy would be decrease in frequency of hemarthrosis and consumption of coagulation factors. In this study we assessed the effect of radioactive synoviorthesis on the frequency of hemarthrosis, factor consumption and other related parameters.

Methods: In an interventional study in Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran, Iran, after meeting of inclusion criteria and taking written consent, colloid 32p radiosynovectomy was performed for 56 joints with haemophilic arthropathy. After local anesthesia of injection site, one mci of 32P for large joints (knee) and 0.5 mci for small joints (ankle and elbow) was injected, respectively. Half of these doses were considered for children (age <12 years).

Results: The mean of age was 16.78 year old (Range: 2.5-36 SD: 7.46) and 98.2% of cases were male. Injected were knee 80.35%, ankle 12.5%, and elbow 7%. The mean of follow-up was 43.63 months (range: 3-102) that at the end, the result was 62% decrease in frequency of hemarthrosis (p=0.0001) and 84% decrease in factor consumption (p=0.0001). However, the involvement of other (non injected) joints during follow-up could lower the decrease of mean of total factor consumption.

Conclusions: Radioactive synoviorthesis can be a cost-effective alternative to decrease hemarthrosis and factor consumption in haemophilic arthropathy.