PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Paoloni, J A
AU  - Murrell, G A C
AU  - Burch, R M
AU  - Ang, R Y
TI  - Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of a new topical glyceryl trinitrate patch for chronic lateral epicondylosis
AID  - 10.1136/bjsm.2008.053108
DP  - 2009 Apr 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 299--302
VI  - 43
IP  - 4
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/4/299.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/4/299.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2009 Apr 01; 43
AB  - Objective: This study aimed to determine whether a new glyceryl trinitrate patch preparation is effective in treating chronic lateral epicondylosis.Design: Randomised double-blind controlled clinical trial.Setting: Private practice patients: 154 adult patients with chronic lateral epicondylosis were recruited, with 136 patients completing the trial.Interventions: 8 weeks of glyceryl trinitrate patch application (dosages of 72 mg/24 h, 1.44 mg/24 h, and 3.6 mg/24 h), or placebo patch application.Main outcome measures: Subjective global assessment of change in elbow symptoms, patient-rated tennis elbow evaluation, visual analogue pain at rest, visual analogue pain with activity, visual analogue pain intensity, grip strength, and strength testing using the Orthopaedic Research Institute-Tennis Elbow Testing System.Results: At 8 weeks there was a significant decrease in elbow pain with activity in the glyceryl trinitrate 0.72 mg/24 h group compared with placebo (p = 0.04). There were no other significant differences.Conclusions: Continuous 1.25 mg/24 h topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment, when combined with daily exercise rehabilitation, has previously demonstrated efficacy in treating chronic lateral epicondylosis. There was significantly decreased elbow pain with activity at 8 weeks in the glyceryl trinitrate 0.72 mg/24 h group (p = 0.04). This short-term dose-ranging study did not demonstrate a treatment effect of a new topical glyceryl trinitrate patch in dosages of 1.44 mg/24 h or 3.6 mg/24 h, which conflicts with previous studies on topical glyceryl trinitrate treatment.Trial registration number: NCT00447928.