[Treatment of gonarthrosis]. / Zur Behandlung der Gonarthrose.

In an open study in 89 out-patients the effect of superoxide dismutase (Orgotein) in gonarthrosis (n = 75), post-operative or post-traumatic irritation (n = 8) and chondropathy (n = 6) was investigated. Orgotein (4 mg) was give intra-articularly once weekly for several weeks. The overall rating showed efficacy of this new antiphlogistic compound in 81 out of 89 patients (91%). In eight patients the results of treatment were insufficient. In 65 (80%) out of the 81 successfully treated patients no relapse appeared. Six patients reported reappearance of slight complaints so that in 75 out of 81 successfully treated patients, even after repeated controls, a long lasting pain relief could be achieved. Only in three cases the tolerance of Orgotein was not assessed as "very good" ("good" in one case and "moderate" in two cases). The patients reacted--despite good tolerance of the first injections--after the 4th or 5th injections with irritation and swelling as well as effusion; these symptoms were reversible within 24 hours.

[Double-blind clinical trial of tramadol capsules. First communication: Comparison with pentazocine and placebo (author's transl)]. / Tramadol-Kapseln in der klinischen Doppelblindprüfung. 1. Mitteilung: Vergleich mit Pentazocin und Plazebo.

A new administration form of tramadol (50 mg) was compared in a multicenter double-blind trial with pentazocine (50 mg) and with placebo in patients with acute pains. Each patient received a test preparation once. The preparations were available in identical capsules. During the five-hour observation period the effect on the intensity of pain was recorded with reference to a scale and the undesirable side effects noted. Tramadol was shown to have an analgesic effect about equal to that of the comparative preparation. Both analgesics were superior in effect to the placebo, as was expected. The incidence of side effects from tramadol was less than that with the comparative substance, even if both analgesics had a higher incidence of side effects than the placebo. The results confirm earlier experience obtained with parenteral application of tramadol.