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. 2017 Jun;8(3):179-184.
doi: 10.24171/j.phrp.2017.8.3.04. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Long-term Treatment with Anti-platelet Agents for Collagen-induced Arthritis Improves Radiological Findings

Chan Kim  1 , Toyou Kim  2 , Jihyung Yoo  3 , Dong-Hyuk Sheen  3 , Sang Kwang Lee  4 , Eun-Hye Choi  4 , Tong Jin Chun  5 , Seong-Wook Kang  6 , Seung-Cheol Shim  6 , Mi-Kyoung Lim  3
Affiliations

Long-term Treatment with Anti-platelet Agents for Collagen-induced Arthritis Improves Radiological Findings

Chan Kim et al. Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the long-term effect of anti-platelet treatment on the radiological progression of collagen-induced arthritis in rats.

Methods: Female Lewis rats with collagen-induced arthritis were divided into three experimental groups: saline, aspirin monotherapy (n = 12), and aspirin-clopidogrel dual therapy (n = 12). Drugs were administered daily and continued up to 70 days after the induction of arthritis. The clinical arthritis index (weight, morphology score, and paw thickness) and radiological scores were evaluated.

Results: The clinical arthritis index peaked on day 20, while the radiological scores peaked on day 35. No intergroup difference was observed in the clinical arthritis index throughout the experiment. The aspirin-clopidogrel dual therapy group had a significantly higher mean radiological score than the other groups (p = 0.045) on day 35. Further treatments resulted in significantly improved radiological findings in the aspirin monotherapy and aspirin-clopidogrel dual therapy groups on day 70 but no significant improvement in the saline group.

Conclusion: Anti-platelet agent treatment improved radiological findings on day 70. These observations emphasize the importance of a future long-term study of the effects of anti-platelet agent treatment on arthritis.

Keywords: antiplatelet drug; bone erosion; collagen induced arthritis; radiological progression.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time course of clinical arthritis index. (A) Body weight, (B) paw thickness, and (C) morphology score. Evaluations were made every 2 or 3 days. Morphology score was recorded using a 0 to 4 scale; for a maximum score of 16. Values are presented as mean ± standard error of mean. ASA, aspirin; Clop, clopidogrel.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Radiological score and X-ray image of Lewis rats with collagen-induced arthritis. (A) Radiological scores were assessed using a 0 to 3 scale in both hindlimbs: saline monotherapy group, aspirin monotherapy group, aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy group. The scores were analyzed using analysis of variance to verify group differences on day 20, day 35, and day 70, respectively (*p < 0.05, **p < 0.01). (B) X-ray images on day 70: a) saline monotherapy group, b) aspirin monotherapy group, c) aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy group. The hind paws and knee of the saline group showed more bone erosions (arrowheads) and osteophytes (arrows) than the aspirin monotherapy and aspirin–clopidogrel dual therapy groups.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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