title: Association of β-2 adrenergic agonist and corticosteroid injection in the treatment of lipomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of isoproterenol and prednisolone in the treatment of subcutaneous lipomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  The first experiment evaluated in vitro lipolysis induced by isoproterenol 10(-6) M alone and across a range of prednisolone concentrations to determine the optimal dose to maximize lipolysis. The second experiment evaluated lipolysis in a lipoma and subcutaneous fat by in vivo microdialysis in five subjects to isoproterenol 10(-6) M with and without prednisolone 10(-6) M. These five subjects and five additional subjects had a lipoma treated five times a week for 4 weeks in a 4-cm grid with 0.2 ml injections of 10(-6) M isoproterenol and 10(-6) M prednisolone. Lipoma size was followed monthly for 1 year or until surgical removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prednisolone increased in vitro lipolysis to isoproterenol and 10(-6) M was the optimal concentration of both drugs. Lipomas responded with less lipolysis to isoproterenol than subcutaneous fat during microdialysis, and prednisolone treatment increased lipolysis in both lipomas and subcutaneous fat. Injection treatment of the lipomas decreased their volume 50%. All but one lipoma grew after treatment. Eight of the 10 subjects elected for surgical treatment, and the histology of the lipomas was normal fat tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prednisolone and isoproterenol in combination increased lipolysis, and injections of the combination into lipomas decreased their volume 50% over 4 weeks. Eight of the 10 subjects elected for surgical removal.
authors.affiliation: John S McIlhenny Skeletal Muscle, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University System, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Redman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dobak
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: T S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Guillot
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Greenway
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008066:Lipolysis; D008067:Lipoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D011239:Prednisolone; D007545:Isoproterenol