I am starting this topic because Joe and John656 had mentioned that they will try Santyl. I think it might make sense to collect experience with Santyl and assess its effect, at least more anecdotes.

For those who are not familiar with Santyl: Abbott Laboratories started marketing Santyl in 2003 (there might have been someone else previously). Santyl is basically collagenase in a topical cream. Abott is using collagenase produced by BioSpecifics (and now probably by Auxilium). The cream also contains ingredients that are meant to help collagenase to get across the skin into the Dupuytren tissue. "This prescription ointment is indicated for debridement of chronic dermal ulcers and second and third degree burns." (http://www.biospace.com/news_story.aspx?...tityId=14254020).

While collagenase injections are aiming to break a cord, Santyl is speculated to be possibly able to reduce a nodule or cord or reduce its growth rate.

So far I haven't found any positive reports on Santyl and Dupuytren's contracture. It might well be that the announcement of Santyl was primarily a marketing effort. But maybe not enough people have tried it. There are also some posts on Santyl in this forum, click on Search, type in Santyl, and select "search in topics and answers".

By the way: We are not encouraging anyone to use Santyl. There is no indication that it works for Dupuytren's contracture and it is not approved by the FDA for this use. But if someone has experience with it, good or bad, it would be great it he/she would post it here.

Wolfgang

Edited at 14.01.08 17:02