Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by SHIPLEY, M. E.
Right arrow Articles by WILLIAMS, I. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by SHIPLEY, M. E.
Right arrow Articles by WILLIAMS, I. A.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1988 British Society for Rheumatology

research-article

PULSED METHYLPREDNISOLONE IN ACTIVE EARLY RHEUMATOID DISEASE: A DOSE-RANGING STUDY

M. E. SHIPLEY1, P. A. BACON2, H. BERRY3, B. L. HAZLEMAN4, R. D. STURROCK5, D. R. SWINSON6 and I. A. WILLIAMS7

1Bloomsbury Rheumatology Unit London
2University of Birmingham
3King's College Hospital London
4Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge
5Glasgow Royal Infirmary
6Wrightington Hospital, Lancs
7Homoeopathic Hospital, Tunbridge Wells Kent

Correspondence to: Address correspondence to Dr Shipley, Bloomsbury Rheumatology Unit, Arthur Stanley House, 40-50 Tottenham Street, London W1P 9PG, UK.

A dose-ranging, double-blind study of pulsed methylprednisolone in 71 patients with active classical or definite RA is reported. Single pulses of 40 mg, 500 mg or 1 g were administered during a 24-h admission. All patients benefited transiently, but only in those who received 1 g was this prolonged beyond 3 weeks. Laboratory measurements showed no significant change in any group. Significantly more patients in the 1 g group felt the treatment worthwhile than in the other groups. The drop-out rates in the 40 mg and 500 mg groups differed significantly from that seen in the 1 g group and were such that statistical analysis beyond 3 weeks was difficult to interpret. Side-effects were mild. Three patients subsequently developed avascular necrosis, one in the 1 g and two in the 40 mg groups. The study suggests that single doses of MP below 1g are not helpful in the management of acute RA.

KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid disease, Steroids, Intravenous infusion, Avascular necrosis


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 LupusHome page
L. Massardo, S. Jacobelli, M. Leissner, M. Gonzalez, L. Villarroel, and S. Rivero
High-Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone Therapy Associated with Osteonecrosis in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Lupus, December 1, 1992; 1(6): 401 - 405.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Pharmacy PracticeHome page
M. A. Bennett and R. D. Allen
High-Technology Home Pharmacotherapy, II: An Overview of the Newest Home Therapies
Journal of Pharmacy Practice, January 1, 1990; 3(1): 40 - 47.
[Abstract] [PDF]


Disclaimer:
Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.