Efficacy and safety of intraarticular injection of Celestovet® in horses

In this study, conducted in 13 equine clinics in Germany, 229 joints and 3 tendon sheets of 204 horses were treated with Celestovet(R) (1 mi contains 12,8 mg betamethasone-21-acetate and 3,9 mg betamethasone-21-disodiumphosphate). Average dosage was 3.5 ml per joint. The horses were subjected to a lameness examination on study clays 0, 7 and 14. An evaluation for all 3 time points was available for 153 horses. An analysis of variance revealed statistical significant differences: mean lameness score is decreasing from 3 (day 0) to 2 (day 7) and 1.5 (day 14). Side effects were observed in 7 of 204 horses (3.43%); in 5 horses changes in the concerned joints were observed and in 2 animals a hyperglycemia was diagnosed. In 5 cases the horses recovered without treatment and in I case a joint lavage was conducted. For I case the outcome was unknown. Final evaluation of treatment success was positive. In 42,9% lameness was healed and in a further 32.9% an amelioration was observed. This study demonstrates clearly efficacy and safety of intraarticular injection of Celestovet(R) in horses.