[Scintigraphic monitoring of chondro-protective therapy of finger polyarthritis]

A pilot study in patients with osteoarthritis of fingers was done to clarify the question, whether abnormal joints in bone scanning can predict degenerative changes in X-rays and if scintigraphy is of help in monitoring therapy with chondroprotective medications. 2 groups of 7 patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of fingers were treated either with galvanic bath alone or in combination with Rumalon-injections for 6 weeks. After therapy the number of abnormal joints in bone scan and number of tender joints was found reduced in both groups, a decrease of the mean circumference of joints was only seen in the Rumalon-group. After 1 year an increase of degenerative signs in X-rays was demonstrated in both groups. But the number of tender joints was smaller in the Rumalon-group than in controls. For abnormal joints in bone scanning a high positive value was calculated regarding to signs of osteoarthritis in radiographs. But no major information in monitoring the chondroprotective efficacy of the medicament was given by bone scanning.