Comparative double-blind trial of intra-articular injections of two long-acting forms of betamethasone.
Two injectable betamethasone preparations, betamethasone dipropionate/betamethasone phosphate and betamethasone acetate/betamethasone phosphate were compared in a controlled trial on 22 "matched patient pairs" with rheumatic diseases. The two preparations were injected intra-articularly in knee joints affected by active synovitis. The time until onset of action and the duration of clinically adequate anti-inflammatory effect were recorded. All injections produced clinically significant effects. The interval before recurrence of symptoms varied from 2 days to more than 3 months. The dipropionate form showed statistically significantly longer duration of action. No difference was noted in the time until onset of action. Local side effects were not observed. The double-blind method of clinical evaluation proved useful in comparing duration of action between long-acting corticosteroids.
D000328:Adult; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy*
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D001623:Betamethasone