Ultrasound wave transports apitoxin in arthritic joint. - Experimental study

Man, in his common lore started using the toxin produced by bees, apitoxin, as a topical medication for rheumatoid arthritis in time immemorial. Systematically subjecting themselves to bee stings. In this study, we sought to use this substance, apitoxin, in an experimental model of induced arthritis. In order for the substance to be introduced through the tissue, ultrasound was used as a vehicle, this action is called phonophoresis. So that the apitoxin would reach the arthritic joint. Wistar rats were used in a model where arthritis was induced by inoculation into the knee joint with zymosan. The animals were divided into groups: GI (positive control), GII (negative control), GIII (topical apitoxin-treated group), GIV (ultrasound-treated group) and GV (phonophoresis-treated group). Inducing arthritis, once established, treatment of the groups was initiated. After 21 days of treatment, the animals were anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine, their knees were submitted to radiographic images, temperatures were collected and euthanized. The RX films were processed by Image J software to collect the intra-articular distance of the femur and tibia. The temperature of each individual in the group was collected. Space and temperature averages: Group I (0.15 mm and 35.7°C), group II (0.03 mm and 38.2°C), group III, (0.4 mm and 37.8°C), group IV (0.6 mm and 36.7°C) to group V (0.78 mm and 36.2°C). We conclude that ultrasound combined with apitoxin via phonophoresis was efficient in tissue repair and subsequent regeneration of joint contours when compared with ultrasound or topical apitoxin alone.