RADIOACTIVE SYNOVIORTHESIS IN HEMOPHILIC HEMARTHROSIS - MATERIALS, TECHNIQUES, AND DANGERS

Radioactive synoviorthesis,vith Au-198, Y-90 Re-186, and P-32 would Se em to be the treatment of choice for recurrent hemarthroses in hemophi lia, The clinical results, obtained by different centers, show a defin ite diminution of hemarthroses in 88% of cases, The advantages of radi oactive synoviorthesis compared with surgical synovectomy are: better results, the requirement of substantially reduced antihemophilic facto r, the possibility of performing the procedure on multiple cases concu rrently on an ambulatory basis, no interference with articular range o f movement, and the tow cost of the procedure, In cases of failure, th e procedure can be repeated after 6 months, and on as many as 3 occasi ons, Studies performed on the chromosomal changes that could be attrib uted to the radioactive material show the disappearance of these alter ations a few years after treatment, No physical changes have been foun d that could be attributed to cytogenic alteration (hematologic or oth er) in any reported patients.