Analgesic and disease modifying effects of interferential current in psoriatic arthritis

• Published in: Rheumatology international Vol. 26; no. 10; pp. 904 - 907
• Main Authors: WALKER, U. A, UHL, M, WEINER, S. M, WARNATZ, K, LANGE-NOLDE, A, DERTINGER, H, PETER, H. H, JURENZ, S. A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.08.2006; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Analgesics - therapeutic use; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; Arthritis, Psoriatic - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis, Psoriatic - drug therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Contrast Media; Dermatology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Gadolinium DTPA; Humans; Inflammatory joint diseases; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Pilot Projects; Psoriasis; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Radiography; Time Factors; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation - instrumentation; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation - methods; Treatment Outcome; Skin disease; Psoriasis; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Rheumatology; Electric; Inflammatory joint disease; Psoriatic arthritis; Spondylarthropathy; Chronic; Analgesic; Pain; Treatment; Therapeutics; Electric stimulation therapy
• ISSN: 0172-8172; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-006-0102-y

Interferential current (IFC) was suggested to improve the skin manifestations of psoriasis vulgaris, possibly by enhancing the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. We assessed the efficacy of IFC on psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Nine consecutive patients were analyzed at baseline and after 16 weeks of IFC therapy. Bipolar IFC was applied twice daily to hands, feet plus all affected joints. IFC improved SF-36 assessed body pain, but not other SF-36 subscales. Morning stiffness, tender joint counts, and physician assessed disease activity improved. In contrast, visual analogue scale assessed pain, CRP and ESR measurements were unchanged. MRI of the most affected hand or foot documented a tendency towards worsened tendinitis, soft tissue swelling, and new joint space narrowing and erosions. Bone scintigraphy showed a trend towards deterioration. New joints became inflamed within treated sites. Thus IFC has analgesic effects in PsA, but does not have a satisfactory disease modifying effect.