A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy of Somatropin in the Treatment of Patellar Tendinopathy

Summary

Patellar tendinopathy is one of the most frequent causes of non-traumatic knee pain and reduced function in patients. Standard treatment options for patellar tendinopathies include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, cryotherapy, manual therapy, eccentric exercises, and ultrasound. Unfortunately many patients fail to respond to these therapies and return to normal activity levels, and recurrence rates for those who do respond are unacceptably high. Many patients who fail to respond display persistent degenerative changes on imaging studies suggesting a failure to regenerate the pathological tissue. Developing new therapies that can directly promote the synthesis of new, healthy extracellular matrix tissue could therefore address an important therapeutic need and make a substantial improvement in our ability to effectively treat patellar tendinopathy and reduce recurrence rates. Somatropin (human growth hormone of recombinant DNA origin) has been shown to increase protein synthesis and matrix production when delivered directly into the tendon. This study will evaluate the ability of somatropin to improve clinical outcomes and tissue quality in patients with chronic tendinopathy.

Timeline

Start

2020-05-01

Primary completion

2020-12-01

Completion

2020-12-01

Publications

• Background Boesen AP, Dideriksen K, Couppe C, Magnusson SP, Schjerling P, Boesen M, Aagaard P, Kjaer M, Langberg H. Effect of growth hormone on aging connective tissue in muscle and tendon: gene expression, morphology, and function following immobilization and rehabilitation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2014 Jan 15;116(2):192-203. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01077.2013. Epub 2013 Nov 14.
• Background Boesen AP, Dideriksen K, Couppe C, Magnusson SP, Schjerling P, Boesen M, Kjaer M, Langberg H. Tendon and skeletal muscle matrix gene expression and functional responses to immobilisation and rehabilitation in young males: effect of growth hormone administration. J Physiol. 2013 Dec 1;591(23):6039-52. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2013.261263. Epub 2013 Sep 30.
• Background Gumucio JP, Sugg KB, Mendias CL. TGF-beta superfamily signaling in muscle and tendon adaptation to resistance exercise. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2015 Apr;43(2):93-9. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000041.
• Background Heinemeier KM, Mackey AL, Doessing S, Hansen M, Bayer ML, Nielsen RH, Herchenhan A, Malmgaard-Clausen NM, Kjaer M. GH/IGF-I axis and matrix adaptation of the musculotendinous tissue to exercise in humans. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2012 Aug;22(4):e1-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2012.01459.x. Epub 2012 Mar 19.
• Background Kongsgaard M, Kovanen V, Aagaard P, Doessing S, Hansen P, Laursen AH, Kaldau NC, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP. Corticosteroid injections, eccentric decline squat training and heavy slow resistance training in patellar tendinopathy. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009 Dec;19(6):790-802. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.00949.x. Epub 2009 May 28.
• Background Visentini PJ, Khan KM, Cook JL, Kiss ZS, Harcourt PR, Wark JD. The VISA score: an index of severity of symptoms in patients with jumper's knee (patellar tendinosis). Victorian Institute of Sport Tendon Study Group. J Sci Med Sport. 1998 Jan;1(1):22-8. doi: 10.1016/s1440-2440(98)80005-4.
• Background Hung M, Stuart AR, Higgins TF, Saltzman CL, Kubiak EN. Computerized Adaptive Testing Using the PROMIS Physical Function Item Bank Reduces Test Burden With Less Ceiling Effects Compared With the Short Musculoskeletal Function Assessment in Orthopaedic Trauma Patients. J Orthop Trauma. 2014 Aug;28(8):439-43. doi: 10.1097/BOT.0000000000000059.
• Lopes AD, Rizzo RR, Hespanhol L, Costa LO, Kamper SJ. Exercise for patellar tendinopathy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 May 27;5(5):CD013078. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD013078.pub2.

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