Publications (2)5.82 Total impact
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Article: Comparative, double-blind, controlled study of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (Hyalubrix) injections versus local anesthetic in osteoarthritis of the hip.
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ABSTRACT: Comparison of intra-articular bacterial-derived hyaluronic acid (Hyalubrix) (HA) with local analgesia (mepivacaine) for osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. A pilot prospective, double-blind, 6-month randomized trial of 42 patients with hip OA. HA or mepivacaine was administered twice (once a month) under ultrasound guidance. Efficacy measurements included the Lequesne's algofunctional index, a visual analog scale for pain, concomitant use of analgesia, patient and physician global measurement, and safety. Patients in the HA group exhibited a significantly reduced Lequesne's algofunctional index 3 and 6 months after treatment (P < 0.001) and significantly reduced visual analog scale pain scores 3 and 6 months after treatment (P < 0.05) compared with the local anesthetic group. All primary and secondary measures were significantly improved versus baseline, but other than the above were not different from each other at 3 or 6 months. Adverse effects were minimal. This comparative study suggests a beneficial effect and safety of intra-articular HA in the management of hip OA. ISRCTN39397064.Arthritis research & therapy 12/2009; 11(6):R183. · 4.27 Impact Factor -
Article: Combined use of teriparatide and TNFalpha blockade: safety.
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ABSTRACT: Up to now, there have been no reports about the combined use of Teriparatide and Anti- TNFalpha blockers in patients affected by inflammatory bone diseases and osteoporosis. In this report, we evaluate the safety of the combined therapeutic use of Teriparatide and Anti-TNFalpha drugs in patients with inflammatory arthritis and severe osteoporosis. Six female patients were selected and treated with biological therapy (3 patients with Etanercept, 3 with Infliximab) for arthritis (2 RA, 4 SPA), having suffered at least 2 vertebral fragility fractures. The mean T-score value, tested by DEXA densitometry, was -2.8 SD - diagnostic for osteoporosis according to WHO criteria. All patients were treated with Teraparatide s.c. (20 microg daily), together with 1200 mg of calcium and 800 IU of vitamin D daily. Until the present time, we have observed no side-effects or therapeutic discontinuity. During the 9-month follow-up period, we did not observe any new symptomatic fractures or infections in treated patients, but we found a reduction in parameters indicating inflammation; no differences were found in biochemical parameters.Aging clinical and experimental research 07/2007; 19(3 Suppl):18-20. · 1.55 Impact Factor
