Local treatment of tendinopathies: a comparison between tropisetron and depot corticosteroids combined with local anesthetics.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether local injection of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist, tropisetron. reduces pain in tendinopathies to the same degree as a local injection of corticosteroids in combination with local anesthetic.


METHODS
Forty patients with tendinopathies were enrolled in this randomized, observer-blind study. An injection of either 5 mg tropisetron. or 10 mg dexamethasone combined with 60 mg lidocaine was administered around the affected tendon. The effect was measured with a visual analog pain scale before the injection, after 3 hours and on each of the following 7 days, in patients with good effects also 3 months after the injection.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the tropisetron and the corticosteroid/anesthetic group in terms of pain at rest or on movement during the study. Both treatments were well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Local injection of tropisetron seems to be as safe and as effective as the combination of corticosteroids and local anesthetics in the treatment of painful tendinopathies.
Stratz
T h
Th
Rheumaklinik Bad Sickingen, Germany.
Färber
L
L
Müller
W
W
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000772:Anesthesia, Local; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077526:Tropisetron
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007211:Indoles; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D000077526:Tropisetron