Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Serum levels of adiponectin and visfatin in knee
osteoarthritis after spa therapy
Giannitti C (1) , Pascarelli N (1) , Caciotti B (2) , Bacarelli M (1) , Simpatico A (1) ,
Lamboglia A (1) , Stortini E (2) , Galeazzi M (1) , Fioravanti A (1)
(1) Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Rheumatology Unit,
University of Siena, Italy
(2) Stabilimento Termale Chianciano Terme. Siena. Italy
chiara.giannitti@libero.it
Introduction and Objectives
Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and a major contributor
of disability in older people. Current treatment of OA include pharmacological
and non-pharmacological modalities. Spa therapy can represent a useful
backup to pharmacological treatment of OA or a valid alternative for patients who
do not tolerate pharmacological treatments, but its mechanisms of action are not
completely known.
Adipocytokine, including visfatin and adiponectin, may play an important role in
the pathophysiology of OA. In skeletal joints, adiponectin may act as a proinflammatory
agent and may be involved in matrix degradation and visfatin may
affect articular cartilage metabolism.
The aim of this study is to evaluate serum levels of adiponectin and visfatin in
patients with OA of the knee treated with a cycle of combination of daily locally
applied mud-packs and mineral water baths in a single blind, controlled, randomized
trial.
Materials and Methods
100 outpatients aged between 50 and 75 years with OA of the knee according to
the ACR criteria and x-rays of the knee (radiological staging I-III ) were enrolled:
50 patients (Group A) received a combination of daily local mud- packs applied on
both knees for 20 min at an initial temperature of 51°C and bicarbonate–sulphatecalcic
mineral bath water at 38°C for 15 min, from the spa centre of Chianciano
Terme (Siena, Italy) for a total of 12 applications carried out over a period of 2
weeks; 50 patients (Group B, controls) continued regular, routine ambulatory care.
Adiponectin and visfatin plasma levels were assessed at baseline time (T0) and
after 2 weeks (T15), upon completion of the spa treatment period (for patients of
group A). The differences in the plasma adiponectin and visfatin levels at baseline
and after fangobalneotherapy were assessed using the Student’s paired t-test. Baseline
blood samples (6 ml) were drawn from an antecubital vein, in the supine position
in the morning after an overnight fast, and again after 2 weeks under the same
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 395-396
395
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4