Anti-inflammatory effect of mud-bath applications on adjuvant arthritis in rats.

Authors: Cozzi F (1) , Carrara M (2) , Sfriso P (1) , Todesco S (1) , Cima L (2)

Affiliations:

(1) Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova (2) Department of Pharmacology and Anaesthesiology, University of Padova

Source: Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2004 Nov-Dec;22(6):763-6

DOI: Not specified Publication date: 2004 Nov E-Publication date: Not specified Availability: full text Copyright: © Copyright CLINICALAND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2004

Language: English Countries: Not specified Location: Not specified Correspondence address: Franco Cozzi, MD,
Division ofRheumatology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova, Italy.
E-mail: franco.cozzi@unipd.it

Keywords

Article abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The real effects of mud-bath applications on the inflammatory process are still not clarified. We studied these effects on rat adjuvant-induced arthritis.

METHODS:

Arthritis was induced in 30 rats by subplantar injection of Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) into the right hind paw. Ten days after FCA injection, the rats were randomized in 3 groups of 10 each: the first one was submitted to a cycle of mud-bath applications, the second one was treated with indomethacin, the third one received only saline per os (control group). The paw volume, measured by plethysmometry, and the serum levels of TNFalpha and IL-1beta were considered as evaluation parameters.

RESULTS:

FCA injection caused a progressive enhancement of paw volume and a rapid increase of TNFalpha and IL-1beta serum levels. After the randomization, mud-bath applications reduced inflammation and at the end of the treatment the paw volume and the TNFa and IL-1beta serum levels were significantly tapered in comparison to the controls (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION:

The results of the study suggest an anti-inflammatory effect of mud-bath applications on adjuvant arthritis in rats. These results could explain the beneficial effects of thermal treatments observed in some inflammatory rheumatic diseases.

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