CHONDROPROTECTIVE EFFECT OF BETAMETHASONE IN LAPINE PYOGENIC ARTHRITIS

The chondroprotective effect of betamethasone was examined to determin e if corticosteroids can decrease articular cartilage injury caused by inflammatory exudate in Staphylococcus aureus gonarthritis in rabbits . Three experimental groups of antibiotic-treated rabbits were created , comparing parenteral versus low-dose intraarticular routes of betame thasone administration. Rabbits that received ceftriaxone plus supplem ental parenteral betamethasone (group 2) demonstrated significantly le ss articular cartilage proteoglycan loss than did rabbits treated with antibiotics alone (group 1). Supplemental intraarticular betamethason e (group 3) was somewhat less effective in this regard, possibly refle cting the smaller steroid dosage. This animal study introduces histolo gic and biochemical evidence that betamethasone, administered early an d in conjunction with appropriate systemic antibiotics, may help prote ct infected articular cartilage from proteolytic degradation. Further study is needed to prove safety and efficacy of corticosteroids before recommending their clinical use in the treatment of septic arthritis.