Efficacy of medical treatment for Charcot neuroarthropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Acta Diabetologica (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

No pharmacotherapeutic agents are yet recommended for active CN though many anti-resorptive agents have been studied. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of the randomized placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the time to remission of active CN with anti-resorptive or antiinflammatory drugs. RCTs published in PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library from January 1994 to December 2019 were accessed. We reviewed studies and extracted information on study design, participants’ characteristics, time to remission, bone turnover markers, bone mineral content (BMC) and temperature difference between feet. Five RCTs out of 588 total identified records were included. Standardized mean differences (SMD) between groups with 95% CI are summarized. Pharmacotherapy nonsignificantly increased time to remission [SMD 0.52 weeks (− 0.71, 1.75), p = 0.402; I2 = 88.6%] as compared to TCC alone. The pooled median time to remission with the intervention was 18.5 weeks (11.2, 28.1) compared to 16.8 weeks (8.7, 27.7) with TCC. A nonsignificant increase in BMC [SMD 3.39% (− 0.78, 7.56), p = 0.109; I2 = 96.7%], a decrease in foot temperature [SMD − 0.42 °C (− 0.78, − 0.07), p = 0.020; I2 = 0%] and alkaline phosphatase [SMD = −2.51% (− 3.24, − 1.77), p < 0.001; I2 = 0%] was observed with intervention. Limited evidence from available studies does not support the role of anti-resorptive or anti-inflammatory drugs for earlier remission when added to offloading with total contact cast for active CN of the foot.

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Data availability

The data supporting the finding of the present study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Foot Care Division, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, PGIMER, Room 0016, Nehru Extension Block, Chandigarh, 160012, India

    Ashu Rastogi & Anil Bhansali

  2. Diabetes and Endocrinology Department,, Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS FT, Ashton under Lyne, Lancs, OL69RW, UK

    Edward B. Jude

Authors
  1. Ashu Rastogi
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  2. Anil Bhansali
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  3. Edward B. Jude
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Contributions

A.R. conceived the design, research question, search strategy, acquisition of the data, data analysis, interpretation of results and wrote the initial draft of the manuscript. A.B. conducted the initial search for articles, revised and critically edited the manuscript. E.B.J. contributed to the design, interpretation of results and edited the manuscript. All authors agree on the final version of the manuscript and A.R. will act as the guarantor of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Ashu Rastogi.

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Rastogi, A., Bhansali, A. & Jude, E.B. Efficacy of medical treatment for Charcot neuroarthropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Acta Diabetol (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00592-020-01664-9

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Keywords

  • Charcot neuroarthropathy
  • Bisphosphonate
  • Anti-resorptive
  • Denosumab
  • Clinical remission
  • Methylprednisolone
  • Standardized mean difference