An Acute Immune Response to Intra-Articular Injection of Osmium Tetroxide

SummaryA systemic reaction to intra-articular injection of osmium tetroxide is described. The patient, a 49-year-old woman, with RA and a history of drug allergy, had been treated with an osmium tetroxide injection in her right knee four years before osmic acid was injected into her left knee. After the injection she got high temperature, chills and erythema. After the acute phase, kidney and liver damage could be recorded.Intra-articular osmic acid injections for the treatment of RA are not recommended for patients with a history of drug allergy.