Steroid injection

Steroid treatment has been reported to reduce the rate of fibroblast cell proliferation and increase the rate of apoptosis (programmed cell death) in nodules of Dupuytren's disease. 

An overview can be found in this steroid_article and a pathogenesis oriented explanation of its effect in an article by Meek et al. "Dupuytren's disease. A model for the mechanism of fibrosis and its modulation by steroids" J. Bone Joint Surg Br. 81 (1999) p 732-738 link. Another study shows that 50% of patients did experience reactivation of the disease in the nodules 1 to 3 years after the last injection, necessitating 1 or more injections, see steroid_article2. Positively expressed injection of steroids can stop the disease for 50 percent of the patients longer than 1-3 years, which make it a successful treatment for some patients.

An article from Brazil reports failure of the steroid treatment in a specific case: steroid_failure_article. Patients might consider the danger of a potential atrophy or discoloration of the tissue. A study claims dose dependent loss of bone at the hip in premenopausal women (bone_loss) but has been criticized.

Steroid injection is being used to treat Dupuytren's contracture as well as Ledderhose disease.

Page last modified: 01/29/2008