Radioisotope synovectomy with rhenium186 in haemophilic synovitis for elbows, ankles and shoulders.

We have performed 221 radioisotope synovectomy (RS) in more than 150 children and young adults with haemophilia, age ranging 3-30 years (mean 15) in Ege Hemophilia Center, Izmir, Turkey for last 7 years. We always preferred to use Yttrium 90 (Y(90)) for knees; however, since 2005, we started using rhenium 186 (Re(186)) for medium-sized joints with respect to safety. In this article, we have evaluated long-term experience ranging from 6 months to 3 years (mean 18 months) with Re(186) for elbows (n = 35), ankles (n = 26) and shoulders (n = 2) in total of 63 RS procedures for 49 patients. Their age range was 3-30 years and mean age was 15.5. Two mCi of Re(186) intra-articularly injected for treating target joints and chronical synovitis. After RS, joint bleedings were decreased for all patients. The best results were obtained for all joints in patients with grade-II synovitis as like earlier experience with Y(90). Excellent rates (no bleeding) were observed in grade-II synovitis in 81% and 46% for elbows vs. 86% and 57% for ankles after 6 months and after 1 year follow-up of patients, respectively. In grade-III synovitis, excellent rates were 53% and 25% for elbows and 44% and 29% for ankles, respectively. In five joints for five patients, repeated injections were needed for better outcome. No adverse events such as radioisotope leakage, local inflamatory reactions or malignancy development were observed during and after RS. For medium-sized joints, RS with Re(186) seems to be either effective or safe treatment method. Our results confirm those previously published by others on the value of Re(186) synoviorthesis in medium-sized joints in haemophilia patients. After this experience, we changed our protocol and we use Re(186) for all medium-sized joints for treating chronical synovitis.