[Comparison of the efficacy of intraarticular and intraarterial injections of two betamethasone preparations in patients with osteoarthritis or epicondilytis].
BACKGROUND
Local infiltration with corticoids is a simple therapy for rheumatic disorders devoid of systemic adverse reactions.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy of two betametasone preparations from two different pharmaceutical laboratories in the treatment of patients with osteoarthritis or epicondylitis.


METHODS
Fourty patients with knee osteoarthritis and 12 patients with epicondylitis were studied. Using a double blind protocol, one of the two betametasone preparations was used for local infiltration of the lesions. The change in a global score of clinical variables including pain and disability was assessed after 30 days of the infiltration.


RESULTS
In patients with osteoarthritis, the global score decreased significantly with both preparations, but no differences were observed between preparations (7.3 +/- 1.8 to 3.9 +/- 2.3 with preparation A and 7.8 +/- 1.9 to 3.6 +/- 2.3 with preparation B). In patients with epicondylitis, pain was also significantly reduced but no differences between preparations was observed (7 +/- 2.1 to 1.4 +/- 2.5 for preparation A and 4.6 +/- 2.8 to 1.2 +/- 1.6 for preparation B).


CONCLUSIONS
Local infiltration with both betametasone preparations was equally effective in the treatment of patients with knee osteoarthritis or epicondilytis.
Departamento de Bioquímica, Hospital Clínico y Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
D
D
Oksenberg
M
M
Cuchacovich
M
M
Alamo
A
A
Goecke
L
L
Contreras
J
J
Catalán
I
I
Saavedra
L
L
Gaete
H
H
Gatica
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D006811:Humerus / Q000293:injuries*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013997:Time Factors
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001623:Betamethasone
Comparación de la eficacia clínica de una inyección intraarticular o intralesional de dos preparados de betametasona en pacientes con artrosis o epicondilitis.