Effect of an intraosseous injection of depo-medrol on pulpal concentrations of PGE2 and IL-8 in untreated irreversible pulpitis.

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, double-blind study was to evaluate the pulpal concentrations of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in untreated teeth with irreversible pulpitis after the administration of an intraosseous injection of Depo-Medrol. Forty emergency patients with a clinical diagnosis of irreversible pulpitis experiencing moderate to severe pain participated. After receiving local anesthesia, patients randomly received, in a double-blind manner, an intraosseous injection of either 1 ml of Depo-Medrol (40 mg) (20 patients) or 1 ml of sterile saline placebo (control) (20 patients). No endodontic treatment was initiated. At 1 or 3 days after the intraosseous injection, the teeth were extracted and the pulpal tissue harvested. Prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-8 concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Results demonstrated a significantly (p < 0.05) lower concentration of prostaglandin E2 compared to the saline group at day 1. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between the two groups at day 3. The pulpal concentrations of prostaglandin E2 were reduced at 1 day after the intraosseous injection of Depo-Medrol.