This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Low-dose spironolactone seen as safe, effective treatment for patients with OA-related knee effusion
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Treatment of osteoarthritis-related knee effusion with low-dose spironolactone proved to be safe and effective, according to results from researchers in Germany and Egypt.
“Low dose spironolactone is a safe, effective and noninvasive treatment for osteoarthritis-related effusion. It is effective in mild and moderate cases and, to a lesser extent, in severe cases,” Sarah Ohrndorf, MD, specialist in internal medicine/rheumatology in the Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at Charité University Hospital in Berlin, told Healio.com/Rheumatology.
Researchers categorized 200 patients with unilateral knee effusion related to osteoarthritis (OA) into four groups with 50 patients in group 1 receiving spironolactone for 2 weeks, 50 patients in group 2 receiving ibuprofen for 2 weeks, 50 patients in group 3 using cold compresses twice daily for 2 weeks and 50 patients in group 4 receiving placebo for 2 weeks.
Results showed the four groups had statistically significant differences in the improvement of effusion. Researchers found group 1 had the greatest reduction in mean fluid thickness, which was maintained after 4 weeks post-treatment. According to results, complete improvement was found in 66% of patients in group 1; in 24% in group 2; in 28% in group 3; and in 6% in group 4. Researchers also noted partial improvement in 20% of patients in group 1, in 12% in group 2, in 14% in group 3 and in 10% in group 4. However, they found no response in 14% of patients in group 1, in 64% in group 2, in 58% in group 3 and in 84% in group 4. Overall, results showed 20.9% of patients in group 1 experienced effusion recurrence compared with 55.6% of patients in group 2, 61.9% in group 3 and 87.5% in group 4.
“Its efficacy exceeded NSAIDs and cold compresses and placebo, not only in reduction of fluid thickness, but also in maintaining reduction in fluid thickness,” Ahmad M. Elsaman, MD, lecturer of rheumatology in the Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and faculty of medicine at Sohag University in Sohag, Egypt, told Healio.com/Rheumatology. “Spironolactone and NSAIDs should not be used concomitantly. It is not yet evidence that we can use [spironolactone] in other types of knee effusion.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: Financial support was provided by Sohag University for establishing and conducting the study, and Charité University Hospital paid for publication fees.
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts