E. Sakiniene et al., ADDITION OF CORTICOSTEROIDS TO ANTIBIOTIC-TREATMENT AMELIORATES THE COURSE OF EXPERIMENTAL STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS ARTHRITIS, Arthritis and rheumatism, 39(9), 1996, pp. 1596-1605
Objective. To evaluate the combined effect of systemic corticosteroid
and antibiotic therapy on the course of septic arthritis. Methods. The
murine model of hematogenously acquired Staphylococcus aureus arthrit
is was used. Mice were treated with corticosteroids and antibiotics, a
nd were followed up individually. Arthritis was evaluated clinically a
nd histopathologically. Serum samples and bacterial isolates were also
analyzed. Results. The prevalence of arthritis 14 days after the onse
t of the disease was 22% in the corticosteroid and antibiotic-treated
group, as compared with 81% in the control (nontreated) group and 48%
in the antibiotic-treated group. The severity of arthritis also decrea
sed in the corticosteroid and antibiotic-treated group, as did the mor
tality rate. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a dramatic decrease
in T cells and macrophages in the synovium of mice that took the comb
ined therapy. The mechanisms leading to this outcome include the inhib
itory effect of corticosteroids on T cell and B cell proliferation and
differentiation, such as suppression of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma)
production. Serum levels of IFN gamma were decreased 4-fold in the ant
ibiotic-treated group compared with the controls; a 15-fold decrease w
as observed in the corticosteroid and antibiotic-treated animals. In a
ddition, serum NO3- was significantly decreased in mice treated with a
ntibiotics (P less than or equal to 0.05), as well as in mice treated
with corticosteroids and antibiotics (P less than or equal to 0.001).
Conclusion. Systemic corticosteroid administration along with antibiot
ic therapy had beneficial effects on the course and outcome of S aureu
s arthritis.