BACKGROUND: Central @entity4215 after transforaminal epidural @entity134 injections have been ascribed to occlusion of the blood vessels supplying the spinal cord and brain by the particulate @entity134 . METHODS: The authors compared the sizes of the particles of the @entity230 @entity8745 , @entity2995 , @entity21025 , @entity17788 / @entity43756 (both @entity5935 Soluspan; Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ, the commercial @entity5935 ; and @entity5935 repository, a @entity5935 preparation that can be ordered from a compounding company), and @entity17788 . Both undiluted and diluted samples were examined. The samples were examined with a laser scanning confocal microscope, and images were analyzed and measured. The particles were categorized (or tabulated) into groups: 0-20, 21-50, 51-1000, and greater than 1000 mu. Chi-square analyses, with Bonferroni correction, were used to compare the proportion of particles among the undiluted and diluted drug formulations. RESULTS: @entity619 and @entity17788 were pure liquid. The proportion of larger particles was significantly greater in the @entity1667 and the compounded @entity5935 preparations compared with the commercial @entity5935 . There was no statistical difference between the commercial @entity5935 and @entity2713 , although @entity5935 had a smaller percentage of the larger particles. Increased dilution of the compounded @entity5935 with @entity3303 decreased the percentage of the larger particles, whereas increased dilution of @entity1667 80 mg/ml with saline increased the proportion of larger particles. CONCLUSION: Commercial @entity5935 is the recommended preparation if a nonsoluble @entity134 is preferred. @entity619 is a nonparticulate @entity134 , but its routine use awaits further studies on its safety and efficacy.

Comparison of the particle sizes of different XXXX and the effect of dilution: a review of the relative neurotoxicities of the @entity230 .

@entity1667 :: ('MESH:D008775', 'Chemical') :: ['methylprednisolone'] @entity21025 :: ('MESH:C004180', 'Chemical') :: ['dexamethasone sodium phosphate'] @entity2995 :: ('MESH:D014222', 'Chemical') :: ['triamcinolone acetonide'] @entity4215 :: ('MESH:D020196', 'Disease') :: ['nervous system injuries'] @entity17788 :: ('MESH:C028994', 'Chemical') :: ['betamethasone sodium phosphate'] @entity5935 :: ('MESH:D001623', 'Chemical') :: ['betamethasone', 'Celestone'] @entity134 :: ('CHEBI:35341', 'Chemical') :: ['steroid'] @entity619 :: ('MESH:D003907', 'Chemical') :: ['Dexamethasone'] @entity3303 :: ('MESH:D008012', 'Chemical') :: ['lidocaine'] @entity43756 :: ('CHEBI:31275', 'Chemical') :: ['betamethasone acetate'] @entity230 :: ('MESH:D013256', 'Chemical') :: ['steroids'] @entity8745 :: ('MESH:C000873', 'Chemical') :: ['methylprednisolone acetate'] @entity2713 :: ('MESH:D014221', 'Chemical') :: ['triamcinolone']
@entity230 :: (MESH:D013256,Chemical) :: ['steroids']
