Intra-articular injection of etanercept versus glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis patients

This study was conducted to assess the safety and efficacy of intra-articular injection of etanercept and compare it with corticosteroid injection in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Fifty patients with RA who suffered from activity in one joint were randomized into two groups, received an intra-articular injection of either etanercept or corticosteroid guided by musculoskeletal ultrasound. All patients were assessed for disease activity by disease activity score (DAS28), functional assessment using the Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire (MHAQ), and laboratory investigations (erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein). Joints affected were evaluated for pain by visual analog scale (VAS), tenderness, and swelling scores and by ultrasound for estimation of synovial hypertrophy, synovial effusion, and power Doppler. Follow-up of the patients was done at weeks 1, 4, and 12 after injection by clinical assessment and ultrasound.

There was a significant improvement of joint pain assessed by VAS, tenderness, and swelling scores in the etanercept group at week 1 and week 4 follow-up periods but there were insignificant changes at week 12. There was a significant decrease in synovial effusion at week 1 and week 4 and in power Doppler at week 1 but no significant change was noticed in synovial hypertrophy during the follow-up periods. In comparison of the two groups, etanercept has shown better results on joint scores at week 1; however, glucocorticoid had more sustained effects. No major or life-threatening side effects were noticed following intra-articular injection of etanercept.

Intra-articular injection of etanercept is a safe and promising option; with comparable results to intra-articular injection of corticosteroid; however, its rapid absorption from the synovium may necessitate frequent injections.