A pilot study of acetic acid iontophoresis and ultrasound in the treatment of systemic sclerosis-related calcinosis - Chiropractic Treatment

A pilot study of acetic acid iontophoresis and ultrasound in the treatment of systemic sclerosis-related calcinosis
January 11, 2005
S. Shetty, T. L. Moore, S. Jackson1, D. Brettle2 and A. L. Herrick
University of Manchester Rheumatic Diseases Centre and 1 Radiology Directorate, Hope Hospital, Salford M6 8HD and 2 Medical Physics and Engineering, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
Rheumatology

Objectives. Our aim was to perform a pilot study to investigate whether iontophoresis of acetic acid, followed by ultrasound, might be a safe and effective treatment for systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related calcinosis. This combination treatment has been used in other calcifying disorders.

Methods. Three female patients (ages 51, 62 and 59 yr) were studied. Each underwent treatment nine times over a 3-week period. Iontophoresis was with 2Ò5% acetic acid at 100 µA for 20 min, followed by ultrasound at 1.5 W/cm2 for 8 min at each visit. The primary endpoint was the degree of radiographic calcinosis as quantified by image analysis after adjusting for soft tissue change.

Results. There were no side-effects from treatment. Mean radiographic intensity fell in all patients (by 18.0, 8.9 and 8.5%), although the maximum density and the area of calcinosis fell in only one patient. However, none of the patients reported any benefits from the treatment.

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