A Comparative Study between Hyaluronic Acid and Corticosteroids for the Treatment of the Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

Objective: To date, there are no studies addressing the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) injections at the trochanteric bursa in patients with greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS). The objective of the study was to compare the efficacy and safety of HA to corticosteroid injections for the treatment of the GTPS. Methods: This prospective, randomized, two-arm trial involved 47 patients with unilateral or bilateral GTPS. Patients received an intra-bursal injection of 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide plus 1mL lidocaine, or of 60 mg HA. Patients completed visual analog scales (VAS) and Likert scales to evaluate interference of pain with daily activity, recovery from pain, and treatment satisfaction. A non-inferiority analysis was also performed. Results: Mean VAS score for pain significantly decreased comparing baseline with 1, 3 and 6 months in both treatment groups. VAS score for pain on palpation was also significantly lower than baseline in both arms. No significant differences were found between groups. Analysis of Likert scales at the sixth month didn’t detect statistically significant differences between treatment groups. The non-inferiority analysis showed that the treatment with HA was non-inferior to corticosteroids. No secondary adverse effects were found among the patients of both groups during the follow-up. Conclusions: The treatment with HA has demonstrated to be non-inferior to corticosteroids after 6 months of follow-up in patients with GTPS. Therefore, the treatment with HA may be considered an effective alternative therapeutic strategy to reduce pain in patients in whom the treatment with corticosteroids, or other therapies, have been unsuccessful or contraindicated.

Rheumatoid Factor and Anti Citrulinated Peptide. Relation with Remission and Progression in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Biologic Agent Therapy, during a One-Year Follow-Up

The aim of this study is to assess the variations of the RF and ACCP in RA patients treated with biologics in actual clinical practice (real) conditions for a one-year follow-up from the first biologic medication. The evaluated patients with a diagnosis of RA, according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 were selected from the outpatient consult of Rheumatology of the “Hospital de Sant Pau” during one month (November 2012). We collected and analyzed data from 41 patients with RA and positivity for RF and/or ACCP. Of the 41 patients had given FR and ACCP at 3, 6 and 12 months respectively in 18 and 10 patients. In 22 patients had given DAS 28 at 3, 6 and 12 months respectively. The mean age of the sample is 55 years (range 29-79), with a mean disease progression 9 years (4 months to 32 years). 70% are women. 33 patients (80.5%) initiated treatment with anti-TNF and 8 (19.5%) with other no anti-TNF mechanism of action. There was a statistically significant (p = 0.001, ANOVA) decrease in DAS 28 (average decrease of 1.6 points) at 3 months is maintained at 6 and 12 m and no significant differences in their evolution by separating anti-TNF drugs vs. other biological agents (different mechanisms of action (p = 0.285). So we have not detected a correlation between DAS 28 and FR or ACCP along the first 12 months of biological treatment. In our experience we did not find a correlation between DAS 28 and RF or ACCP, thus RF and ACCP do not appear to predict the response to treatment.