Effects of balneotherapy on serum interleukin-2 rezeptors, inflammation markers and cortisol levels in knee osteoarthrits

Abstract

Aims: To investigate hormonal and T cell-mediated immune responses and pain intensity on the osteoarthritic patients before and after balneotherapy (BT). Methods: in this randomized controlled study, 47 patients with grade 2 and 3 knee osteoarthritis (KOA) were included in BT (n = 23) and heated tap water (TW) (n=24) therapy groups. Group I was treated with 37 degrees C spa water (BT group) in a small therapeutic pool. Group II (TW) was treated with heated tap water 37 degrees C in the same pool as placebo-control. Patients in both of the groups had 20min/day treatment for 10 days. Participants were assessed before treatment, after 10 clays-treatment and at the 12th week for sIL-2R, cortisol, erytrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pain intensity (pVAS). Results: BT and heated TW therapy both decreased pain intensity and sIL-2R levels at the 2nd week and 12th weeks. BT was superior to heated tap water therapy in reducing pVAS after 10 days-treatment (p < 0.05) and sIL-2R levels after 1.0 days-treatment and at the 12th week (p < 0.05, p < 0.001). In BT group, decrease in CRP was superior to TW therapy group at after 10 days-treatment and at the 12th week (p < 0.05, p < 0.05). Conclusion: We observed improvement in pain and reduction in sIL-2R in osteoarthritic patients with BT and heated TW therapy. However, BT was superior to TW therapy for changes in pain, sIL-2R and CRP after the therapy and in the long term.