Treatment of Lateral Epicondylitis Using Betahistine Dihydrochloride

Abstract

Objectives

Lateral epicondylitis is a commonly encountered problem. Disruption of microcirculation is hypothesized in the pathophysiology of lateral epicondylitis. Betahistine dihydrochloride [BHD] is used in our study for its microcirculation increasing activity.

Methods

After hospital ethics committee approval and getting written informed consent from patients, adult patients with lateral epicondylitis were recruited in this randomized study. One group received 48 mg/day BHD for 10 days. The control group received 750 mg/day naproxen sodium [NS] for 10 days. Visual Analog Scale [VAS] and Verhaar criteria were evaluated before and after treatment.

Results

Fifty-five patients [41 females, 14 males], mean age 40 years [21–63 years] participated. The VAS before treatment was not significantly different between groups. In the NS group, mean VAS after the 10th day, third month, and sixth month were found to be significantly higher than that of the BHD group [P = 0.0001]. Verhaar criteria after the 10th day of treatment in the BHD group were significantly improved when compared with the NS group [P = 0.008]. Evaluation of clinical findings showed no difference between groups before treatment, but 10th day, third, and sixth month symptoms were found to be lesser in the BHD group when compared with the NS group [P = 0.001; P = 0.001; P = 0.001, respectively].

Conclusions

The microcirculation increasing agent BHD restored the signs and symptoms of lateral epicondylitis. In conclusion BHD, which is a histamine agonist, is a favorable choice in the treatment of lateral epicondylitis.

Keywords:

• Lateral epicondylitis
• elbow pain
• tennis elbow
• betahistine dihydrochloride