Intra-Articular Osmic Acid in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

SummaryOsmic acid combined with a local anesthetic agent and corticosteroid was administered intra-articularly into 36 knee joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A beneficial effect was observed in every case. Effusion and pain disappeared and the mobility of the injected joints increased. The effect lasted several months in most of the cases. No serious side-effects were noted.Histological examination revealed cell disintegration, granulation, pigmentation and occasionally an atypical giant cell reaction shortly after the injection of osmic acid, and later the retention of osmic acid compounds in the deep layers of the synovium.Surgery of the osmic-acid-treated knees showed that osmic acid had a specific affinity for the tissues affected by the rheumatoid process.