BACKGROUND: In this paper, we evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of the application of 166-holmium-boro-macroaggregates (HMBA) in radiosynovectomy (RSO) of the knees. We assessed the efficacy and safety of ¹⁶⁶Ho-HBMA in a prospective clinical trial in patients suffering from chronic synovitis.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: An effective component of radiopharmaceutical ¹⁶⁶Ho-boro-macroaggregates is radionuclide ¹⁶⁶Ho which has both β-emission and γ-emission. The physical half-life time of 166Ho is 26.8 hours. After application of the radiopharmaceutical into a joint cavity, the effect of β-emission causes radiation necrosis of pathologically changed (inflamed) synovial membrane. From 15th April 2005, we have started RSO of knees by means of new radiopharmaceutical ¹⁶⁶Ho-boro-macroaggregates in patients with gonarthrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic synovitis, psoriatic arthritis, gout arthropathy. Seventeen intra-articular injections were performed in fifteen patients receiving a mean activity of 972 MBq (range: 904-1057 MBq) ¹⁶⁶Ho-HMBA. The patients were hospitalized for three days. Side effects were evaluated during hospital stay and after 6-8 weeks. Static scintigraphy of knee joints and measurements of blood radioactivity were performed. Therapeutic effects were evaluated after 6-8 weeks.
RESULTS: In 2 hours and 2 days after application, we proved, by means of knee and inguinal scintigraphy, only insignificant radiopharmaceutical leakage from the joint cavity to the inguinal lymph nodes in four patients. In treated patients, no serious adverse effects occurred. Nine patients were without complaints; 4 patients had slight knee exsudation and 2 patients had great exsudation. Therapeutic effects after 6-8 weeks were as follows: 2 patients were without pain, 9 with lower pain, 3 with the same pain and 1 patient with increased pain. Joint motion was improved in 7 patients, remained the same in 7 patients and was impaired in 1 patient. Analgesics consumption was lower in 5 patients, the same in 9 patients and greater in 1 patient. Knee exsudation was absent in 2 patients, lower in 4 patients, the same in 6 patients and greater in 3 patients.
CONCLUSIONS: We proved only insignificant radiopharmaceutical leakage from the joint cavity to the inguinal lymph nodes. Six patients had early slight or great radiation synovitis. The possible cause could be rather high applicated activity. One can take into consideration its reduction. Therapeutic effects can be precisely evaluated after a longer time interval than was possible for us (6-8 weeks after RSO). ¹⁶⁶Ho-boro-macroaggregates can extend the scale of clinically used radiopharmaceuticals for RSO. This paper is presented in the scope of the first stage of clinical evaluation of synovectomy application of holmium-boro-macroaggregates.