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Photodynamic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis?
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Würzburg, Germany.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine
|January 1, 1997
Summary
Photodynamic therapy using Chloroquine or Methotrexate shows promise for treating rheumatoid arthritis. These substances, when combined with laser treatment, significantly enhance cell death in affected tissues.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Photochemistry
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Synovectomy is the primary early surgical treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, but it is limited to larger joints.
- Laser synovectomy is feasible for smaller joints but is time-consuming.
- Photodynamic therapy presents a potential alternative treatment modality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the photodynamic effects of Chloroquine, Methotrexate, Piroxicam, and Sodium Morrhuate.
- To evaluate these agents in a human synovial fibroblast cell culture model of rheumatoid arthritis.
Main Methods:
- Human synovial fibroblasts from rheumatoid arthritis patients were used.
- Cells were incubated with Chloroquine, Methotrexate, Piroxicam, or Sodium Morrhuate.
- Subsequent laser irradiation at 351 nm was applied.
Main Results:
- Chloroquine and Methotrexate demonstrated significant photodynamic effects.
- A twenty-fold increase in cytotoxicity was observed after laser irradiation.
- Piroxicam and Sodium Morrhuate did not show comparable photodynamic activity.
Conclusions:
- Chloroquine and Methotrexate are potential candidates for photodynamic therapy in rheumatoid arthritis.
- This approach may offer a novel treatment strategy for rheumatoid arthritis, particularly for smaller joints.