Rheumatoid arthritis is a systematic disorder which manifests as pain and swelling of multiple joints. The disease is chronic with remissions and relapses. Moreover, the precise cause of this disease remains uncertain and hence the cure is also unknown.

German nuclear medicine professor Dr Gynter Moedder initially treated some twenty joints with the help of radiation synovectomy recently at the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) in Pune. In the process, he also taught the procedure to other doctors.

According to Dr Shreekant Solav, a consultant in nuclear medicine who has treated more than 60 such cases in the city, this form of treatment is advantageous because of its localised nature. Radiation synvectomy which is a localised form of therapy involves injection of radio-colloids directly in the joint space, he explained. The radio-colloids once injected in the joint cavity emit a particular radiation (beta radiation) which can travel upto a few millimetres. The beta radiation has the power to destroy inflammatory cells present over the synovial membrane, he said, adding that as a result there is reduction in swelling, increased threshold of pain in the patients and improvement in the joint movements. The actual benefit of this procedure becomes obvious after three months.

Dr Solav revealed that the medicine used for this form of treatment is currently imported from France and requires special clearance from Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC). About 60 joints have been treated so far at the Ruby Hall Clinic using this procedure. A majority of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis has shown 60 per cent to 70 per cent improvement in their systems.