Spring 1982 - Athletic Training History

C87. Periostitis88. Peroneal Nerve Contusion89. Peroneal Tenosynovitis90. Plantar Wart91. Plantaris Strain92. Tenosynovitis93 - Muscle Strains94. Sprains95. Insect Bites96. Stye97. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome98. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome99. TendonitisThe preceding 99 indications for possible research withDimethyl Sulfoxide were listed in the Standard Nomenclatureof Athletic Injuries. 2 * The reader will realize thatthere are many more possibilities for research.Dimethyl Sulfoxide is Still in the Category of a New InvestigationalDrugEven though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)regulation establishing specific requirements for clinicaltesting of Dimethyl Sulfoxide was completely revoked asof June 12,1980, DMSO is still in the category of a new investigationaldrug. 32 (Dr. Jacob's presentation at theNATA meeting was June 11, 1980.) At the present time,DMSO is approved only for use in the treatment of InterstitialCystitis. However, a medical doctor may nowuse prescription DMSO to treat other medical conditionsfor which he feels the medication may be beneficial.Research Industries Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, isthe only company marketing an FDA approved DMSO,Rimso 50, which will cost around $13.95 for 50 milliliters of50 percent solution. Industrial type Dimethyl Sulfoxidemay be obtained on a non-prescription basis from manysources, reliable and non-reliable. The price of this DMSOmay run around $15.00 a pint for 99 percent solution.However, this DMSO may not be safe to use on humans.Warnings from the FDA, Marv Roberson at BrighamYoung University, and William Powell, RPh, Mars HillCollege Pharmacist, strongly advise against the use of industrialtype DMSO on humans. Dr. Norman A. David,MD, Chairman, Department of Pharmacology and Chairman,Investigational Drug Committee, University ofOregon Medical School, states, "The commercialunrefined grade of DMSO is not only more toxic becauseof the impurities but is more likely to cause skinirritations and rashes. AND SHOULD A DOCTOR ORLAYMAN USE THIS PREPARATION WITHOUTFOLLOWING THE PROPER F.D.A. AUTHORITY, HEMAYBE INVESTIGATED BY THE F.D.A. AND CON­VICTED OF A FELONY. " 37As of March 27, 1981, Richard Lebovitz could find noevidence that the F.D.A. had changed this philosophy. Inaddition, Mr. Lebovitz advises that any individual usingindustrial type DMSO would be leaving himself open tocivil suit. 35ConclusionsIf there is any phrase to sum up this article it wouldhave to be "Jacob versus the world." Dr. Jacob is the manwho started the medical investigations of DimethylSulfoxide. A great deal of evidence supports Jacob, butnobody is as crusading as Jacob for the use of DMSO inmedicine. This matter of Jacob versus the world is similarto the situation 28 years ago of Spike Dixon versus theworld over the matter of ice as a therapeutic modality.Time has now proven that Spike was right and people arenot admitting that they should have listened to him then.Dimethyl Sulfoxide has been shown to have therapeuticvalue. No evidence has been presented that DMSO is amiracle cure or that it is the only medication that shouldbe used. Dimethyl Sulfoxide needs further continuous investigationby qualified Sports Medicine personnel todetermine optimum dosage in athletic injuries.Again, industrial type Dimethyl Sulfoxide should not beused on human patients. Only prescription DMSO is consideredsafe for human use. +References1. Adamson JE, et al: The Effects of Dimethyl Sulfoxide on theExperimental Pedice Flap: A Preliminary Report, PlasticReconstruction Surgery 37: 105-108,1966.2. Basmajian JV and Grant JC, Grant's Method of Anatomy,Williams and Wilkins Co., Baltimore, Maryland, 1965, 775 pp.3. Brown JH: Clinical Experiences with DMSO in AcuteMusculoskeletal Conditions, Comparing a NoncontrolledSeries with a Controlled Double-Blind Study, Annals of theNew York Academy of Sciences 141: 496-500,1967.4. Callen DF and Philpot RM: Cytochrome P-450 and the Activationof Promutagens in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, MutaRes 45: 309-324,1977.5. Engel MF: Indications and Contraindications for the use ofDMSO in Clinical Dermatology, Annals of the New YorkAcademy of Sciences 141: 638-642,1967.6. Gordon DM and Kleberger KE: Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide(DMSO) on Animal and Human Eyes, Archives of Opthamology79: 423-427,1968.7. Gorog PM and Kovacs IB: Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DM­SO) on Various Experimental Inflammations, CurrentTherapeutic Research 10: 486-492,1968.8. Gries GB, et al: The Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide on theComponents of Connective Tissue (Clinical and ExperimentalInvestigations), Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences141: 630-635,1967.9. Hucker HB, et al: Studies on the Absorption, Excretion andMetabolism of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in Man, Journalof Pharmaceutical Experimental Therapy 155: 309-317,1967.10. Jacob SW, et al: Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): A New Conceptin Pharmacotherapy, Current Therapeutic Research 6:134-135,1964.11. Jacob SW: DMSO: Potential Usefulness in PhysicalTherapy, Journal of the American Physical TherapyAssociation 49: 470, May, 1969.12. Jacob SW, et al (editors), Dimethyl Sulfoxide, Vol. I:Biological Concepts of DMSO, M. Dekker, New York, 1971.13. John HI and Laudahn GE: Clinical Experience with TopicalApplications of DMSO in Orthopedic Diseases: Evaluation of4,180 Cases, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences141: 506-511,1967.14. Killian DJ and Picciano DJ: Cytogemetic Surveillance of IndustrialPopulations, in A. Hollaender (editor) ChemicalMutagens, Vol. 4, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 321-329,1976.15. Kligman AM: Topical Pharmacology and Toxicology ofDimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): Part 1, Journal of theAmerican Medical Association 193: 923-928,1965.16. Kligman AM: Topical Pharmacology and Toxicology ofDimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): Part 2, Journal of theAmerican Medical Association 193: 923-928,1965.17. Kolb KH, et al: Absorption, Distribution and Elimination ofLabled Dimethyl Sulfoxide in Man and Animals, Annals ofthe New York Academy of Sciences 141: 85-88,1967.18. Lapeyre, Jean-Numa and Bekhor I: Effect of 5-Bromo-21-Deoxyuridine and Dimethyl Sulfoxide on Properties andContinued on page 48Athletic Training • Spring 1982 29