Table 2.

Summary of features possibly affecting outcome after IACI

I. Technical aspects

A. Steroid preparation used

B. Dose of steroid

C. Radiographic guidance

D. Adequate anesthesia

E. Post-injection care

II. Patient and disease characteristics

A. Disease subtype

B. Specific joint injected

C. Patient sex*

D. Patient age*

E. Disease duration*

F. Higher ESR*

G. % PMNs in synovial fluid*

H. Higher level synovial fluid macrophage inhibitory factor

I. ANA status*

J. Concomitant medications

K. Initial treatment vs. re-treatment*

Note:

^*Conflicting data amongst studies.

Abbreviations: ANA, anti-nuclear antibodies; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; IACI, intra-articular corticosteroid injection; PMNs, polymorphonuclear leukocytes.