A Call to Action by the Italian Mesotherapy Society on Scientific Research

Abstract

Mesotherapy (local intradermal therapy, LIT) is a technique used to slowly spread drugs in tissues underlying the site of injection to prolong the pharmacological effect with respect to intramuscular injection. Recommendations for proper medical use of this technique have been made for pain medicine and rehabilitation, chronic venous disease, sport medicine, musculoskeletal disorders, several dermatological conditions, skin ageing, and immune-prophylaxis. Although mesotherapy is considered a valid technique, unresolved questions remain, which should be answered to standardize methodology and dosing regimen as well as to define the right indications in clinical practice. New randomized controlled trials are needed to test single products (dose, frequency of administration, efficacy and safety). Even infiltration of substances for dermo-cosmetic purposes must be guided by safety and efficacy tests before being proposed by mesotherapy. In this article, we put forth a preclinical and clinical research plan and a health technology assessment as a call to action by doctors, researchers and scientific societies to aid national health authorities in considering mesotherapy for prevention, treatment and rehabilitation paths.

Keywords: intradermal therapy; mesotherapy; research plan.

Figure 1

The main open questions on mesotherapy. Note: Each question could be the subject of an ad hoc research plan.

Figure 2

Research pathway do develop mesotherapy.

Figure 3

Possible mechanisms of action of the local intradermal therapy. Notes: The set of mechanisms induced by “mesotherapy” is called “mesodermal modulation”. Data from Mammucari et al.