Long term follow up of haemophilic arthropathy treated by Au-198 radiation synovectomy

Intra-articular injection of Au-198 (gold synoviorthesis) has been used in the treatment of repeated haemarthroses of the elbows, knees, or ankles in 64 haemophiliacs. These patients had continued to have joint haemorrhages despite appropriate, episodic, substitutive therapy over a period of more than six months. Follow-up for an average period of 14 years in one knee in 38 male haemophiliacs showed 8 good, 23 fair, and 7 poor results with regard to their joint scores.