CLINICAL RESEARCH POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
Please note: All posters will be displayed in Salons 10-12.

THURSDAY, 10:15-11:00 AM

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Michalsen A, Cesur Ö, Afra D, Lüdtke R, Dobos G*.

Leeches in osteoarthritis of the thumb: a randomized clinical trial.

Department of Internal and Integrative Medicine, Kliniken Essen-Mitte, University Duisburg-Essen andreas.michalsen@uni-essen.de *Presenting author

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether leech therapy is more effective than topical diclofenac in ostheoarthritis (OA) of the thumb.

METHODS: Patients (age 40-85) with primary thumb OA and an initial VAS pain score > 4 cm were eligible. Major exclusion criteria were hemophilic disorders, other rheumatic diseases, or treatment with anticoagulants or immunosuppresives. Patients were randomised into verum or control group and followed up for 60 days. 16 verum patients were treated once with one to three leeches applied topically at periarticular sites at the the painful thumb joint. 16 control patients were treated with topical diclofenac lotion twice a day. The primary outcome measure was the change (day 0 to 7) of overall pain, defined by the sum of three 10cm VAS pain scales (at rest, at joint movement, with grip).

RESULTS: Groups at baseline were balanced except for higher pain at joint movement in verum patients (p=0.026). Overall pain improvements were significantly higher in the verum group at day 7 (group difference 7,9cm, 95%-CI: 3,8 to 12,1, p=0.0003, ANCOVA), day 30 (p=0.0003), and day 60 (p<0.0001). Grip strength improved significantly better in the verum group at day 60 (p=0.021) but not at day 7 (p=0.119). There were no major adverse effects.

CONCLUSIONS: We found an pronounced and lasting pain relieving effect of a single leech therapy. The results match those on leech therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee. Leeches therapy may be a promising and safe symptomatic treatment method in osteoarthritis.

 

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