Premium
Photodynamic therapy for rheumatoid arthritis?
Author(s) -
Hendrich Christian,
Siebert Werner E.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
lasers in surgery and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1096-9101
pISSN - 0196-8092
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9101(1997)21:4<359::aid-lsm7>3.0.co;2-p
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , medicine , methotrexate , synovectomy , photodynamic therapy , arthritis , synovial membrane , dermatology , surgery , chemistry , organic chemistry
Background and Objective The only early surgical therapy of rheumatoid arthritis is synovectomy. But even an arthroscopic synovectomy is restricted to more or less big joints. It has been shown recently that for smaller joints a laser synovectomy is possible but more time‐consuming than with mechanical instruments. An alternative method may be photodynamic therapy. Study Design/Materials and Methods In this study, possible photodynamic effects of Chloroquine, Methotrexate, Piroxicam, and Sodium Morrhuate were examined using a cell culture model of human synovial fibroblasts from patients having rheumatoid arthritis. Results Incubation with Chloroquine or Methotrexate and subsequent laser irradiation at a wavelength of 351 nm resulted in an at least twentifold enhanced cytotoxicity. Conclusion Both substances therefore may serve for a photodynamic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis. Lasers Surg. Med. 21:359–364, 1997. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.