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Analgesic and disease modifying effects of interferential current in psoriatic arthritis

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Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgement

We thank the Nemectron GmbH, Daimlerstr. 15, 76185 Karlsruhe, Germany for providing the IFC appliance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Medizinische Universitätsklinik, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany

    U. A. Walker, K. Warnatz, H. H. Peter & S. A. Jurenz

  2. Department of Radiology, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany

    M. Uhl

  3. Medizinische Klinik I, Marienhospital Herne, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

    S. M. Weiner

  4. Department of Nuclear Medicine, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg, Germany

    A. Lange-Nolde

  5. Institute for Biological Interfaces, Karlsruhe, Germany

    H. Dertinger

Authors
  1. U. A. Walker
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  2. M. Uhl
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  3. S. M. Weiner
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  4. K. Warnatz
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  5. A. Lange-Nolde
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  6. H. Dertinger
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  7. H. H. Peter
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  8. S. A. Jurenz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. A. Walker.

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Walker, U.A., Uhl, M., Weiner, S.M. et al. Analgesic and disease modifying effects of interferential current in psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatol Int 26, 904–907 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-006-0102-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-006-0102-y

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