title: Therapeutic use of hormones on tendinopathies: a narrative review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hormones can modify tendon homeostasis, some of them leading to tendon damage, while others are essentials for healing. This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge on the topic, focusing on the hormones normally secreted by endocrine glands.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search in PubMed, Web of Knowledge and EMBASE, using the terms tendinopathy or tendon, combined with estrogens, testosterone, thyroid and parathyroid hormones, glucocorticoids and growth hormone, independently, was performed. Relevant articles focusing on the correlation between hormones and tendons, and their therapeutic use in tendinopathies, were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Tendon abnormalities observed in subjects with hyperparathyroidism, hypercortisolism and acromegaly are described. At present, experimental studies and preliminary observations in humans suggest that parathyroid and growth hormones, locally administered, are promising therapeutic tools in specific tendon disorders. Local injections of glucocorticoids are useful in several tendinopathies, exploiting their anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative properties, but carry the risk of further tendon degeneration and ruptures, due to the detrimental direct effect of glucocorticoids on the tendon structure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because tendons injuries are frequent, often with long lasting sequels, it is important to improve our understanding concerning the therapeutic potential of hormones on healing.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guelfi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pantalone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanni
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Cosima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schiavone
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Andia
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Science of Aging, University "G. d'Annunzio" Chieti - Pescara, Chieti, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Salini
keywords: estrogens; growth hormone; parathormon; steroids; tendinopathy; thyroid