Endogenous anandamide and self-reported pain are significantly reduced after a 2-week multimodal treatment with and without radon therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study.

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Endogenous anandamide and self-reported pain are significantly reduced after a 2-week multimodal treatment with and without radon therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a pilot study.
Authors:	Gaisberger, M.^1,2,3 (AUTHOR) martin.gaisberger@pmu.ac.at, Fuchs, J.^1,2 (AUTHOR), Riedl, M.⁴ (AUTHOR), Edtinger, S.⁵ (AUTHOR), Reischl, R.⁶ (AUTHOR), Grasmann, G.⁶ (AUTHOR), Hölzl, B.⁷ (AUTHOR), Landauer, F.⁴ (AUTHOR), Dobias, H.^1,2 (AUTHOR), Eckstein, F.^3,8,9 (AUTHOR), Offenbächer, M.¹⁰ (AUTHOR), Ritter, M.^1,2,3 (AUTHOR), Winklmayr, M.^1,3 (AUTHOR)
Source:	International Journal of Biometeorology. Jul2021, Vol. 65 Issue 7, p1151-1160. 10p.
Subject Terms:	Knee, Radon, Anandamide, Combined modality therapy, Pilot projects, Knee osteoarthritis, *Self-efficacy
Geographic Terms:	Tripoli (Libya)
Abstract:	Multimodal therapies comprising spa applications are widely used as non-pharmaceutical treatment options for musculoskeletal diseases. The purpose of this randomized, controlled, open pilot study was to elucidate the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in a multimodal therapy approach. Twenty-five elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) received a 2-week spa therapy with or without combination of low-dose radon therapy in the Bad Gastein radon gallery. A 10-point numerical rating scale (pain in motion and at rest), WOMAC questionnaire, and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire were recorded at baseline, and during treatment period at weeks one and two, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. Plasma levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) were determined at baseline and at 2 weeks, and serum levels of several cartilage metabolism markers at all five time-points. A significant and sustained reduction of self-reported knee pain was observed in the study population, but no further significant effect of the additional radon therapy up and above base therapy. This pain reduction was accompanied by a significant reduction of AEA plasma levels during treatment in both groups. No significant differences were seen in serum marker concentrations between the groups treated with or without radon, but a small reduction of serum cartilage degradation markers was observed during treatment in both groups. This is the first study investigating AEA levels in the context of a non-pharmacological OA treatment. Since the endocannabinoid system represents a potential target for the development of new therapeutics, further studies will have to elucidate its involvement in OA pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database:	Energy & Power Source

Description
Abstract:	Multimodal therapies comprising spa applications are widely used as non-pharmaceutical treatment options for musculoskeletal diseases. The purpose of this randomized, controlled, open pilot study was to elucidate the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in a multimodal therapy approach. Twenty-five elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) received a 2-week spa therapy with or without combination of low-dose radon therapy in the Bad Gastein radon gallery. A 10-point numerical rating scale (pain in motion and at rest), WOMAC questionnaire, and the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) questionnaire were recorded at baseline, and during treatment period at weeks one and two, and at 3-month and 6-month follow-ups. Plasma levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) were determined at baseline and at 2 weeks, and serum levels of several cartilage metabolism markers at all five time-points. A significant and sustained reduction of self-reported knee pain was observed in the study population, but no further significant effect of the additional radon therapy up and above base therapy. This pain reduction was accompanied by a significant reduction of AEA plasma levels during treatment in both groups. No significant differences were seen in serum marker concentrations between the groups treated with or without radon, but a small reduction of serum cartilage degradation markers was observed during treatment in both groups. This is the first study investigating AEA levels in the context of a non-pharmacological OA treatment. Since the endocannabinoid system represents a potential target for the development of new therapeutics, further studies will have to elucidate its involvement in OA pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:	00207128
DOI:	10.1007/s00484-021-02095-z