Chemical Synovectomy in Arthritis by Intra-Articular Injection of Osmic Acid
D. Markovits, M. Rozenbaum, I. Rosner, E. Rottenstriech
Dept. of Medicine A, Carmel Hospital; Rheumatology Unit, Bnai Zion Hospital; and Zevulun Medical Clinic, Haifa
18 patients suffering from persistent synovitis despite medical therapy were treated with an intra-articular injection of osmic acid. After 1 year of follow-up, 68% had good results and there were no complications nor detectable radiographic evidence of disease progression. Because osmic acid is almost as effective as surgical synovectomy and is cheap and easy to administer, it can be recommended as the first choice for treatment of corticosteroid-resistant arthritis in the early stages of the disease.