title: Low-dose, low-volume chemonucleolysis. A biochemical study.
abstract: Thirty patients with persistent sciatica due to a single disc protrusion were injected with 0.5 ml (2.0 mg) or 2.0 ml (8.0 mg) of chymopapain. Serial 24-hour urine samples were collected 1 day preinjection and for 5 days postinjection for glycosaminoglycan analysis. There was a significant increase in urinary glycosaminoglycan in both groups following chemonucleolysis, but no significant difference was found between the two groups in the total excretion of glycosaminoglycan during the 5-day period. Low-dose, low-volume chemonucleolysis may be as effective as standard doses in releasing glycosaminoglycan from intervertebral discs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Strangeways Research Laboratory, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dando
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Jenner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Buttle
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002917:Chymopapain / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007404:Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis / Q000379:methods*; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012585:Sciatica / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; D002917:Chymopapain