Intraarticular Triamcinolone Hexacetonide Injection in Children with Chronic Arthritis: A Survey of Clinical Practice

Abstract

To assess the efficacy of the intraarticular steroid(IAS) injection in the management of arthritis and the possible related complications in children with chronic arthritis. We evaluated 11 children of chronic arthritis (4 girls and 7 boys), age of onset ranged from 2~13.6 years, who had persistent arthritis treated with lAS from November 1994 to June 1997. The results of injections showed that the beneficial effect was noted within one day to 2 weeks without significant adverse reactions, remission exceeding 6 months was seen in 10 of 11 patients (in 14 of 18 joints). According to subgroups of chronic arthritis, the remission rate of lAS injection in children with pauciarticular arthritis reached 100%. A significant fall in C-reactive protein (CRP) between pre-and post-lAS injection (p=O.O3), but there were no differences in hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBCs), thrombocytes (Pits), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and osteocaicin level. No injection-related complications were found. In conclusion, the lAS injection was an effective and safe treatment in children with chronic arthritis with no obvious complications especially in pauciarticular arthritis.