title: Reevaluation of steroid tapering after steroid pulse therapy for heart rejection.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was conducted to determine the efficacy and complications resulting from steroid pulse therapy, with or without a steroid taper, in 93 episodes of heart transplant rejection that occurred in 72 patients (58 men, 14 women; mean age, 47.6 years). Each rejection episode was classified according to severity (Texas Heart Institute endomyocardial biopsy scale) and the treatment. Group 1 included 25 episodes of grade 7, 8, 9, or 10 rejection (International Society for Heart Transplantation [ISHT] grade IIIB or IV) that were treated with high-dose methylprednisolone (2.5 to 3.0 gm) and a steroid taper of 1.75 gm over 30 days. Group 2 included 16 episodes of rejection, with the severity of rejection and methylprednisolone pulse therapy being similar to that in group 1, but without a steroid taper. The results of treatment in group 1 were compared with those in group 2. Group 3 included 12 episodes of grade 5, 6, or 7 rejection (ISHT grade IIIA or IIIB) that were treated with moderate-dose methylprednisolone (1.0 to 2.0 gm) and a steroid taper, as described. Group 4 included 40 episodes of rejection, with the severity of rejection and methylprednisolone therapy being similar to that of group 3, but without a steroid taper. The results of treatment in group 3 were compared with those in group 4. No statistically significant differences were found among the groups regarding subsequent episodes of rejection or infection within 3 months of treatment. No statistically significant difference was noted among the groups in the number of rejection episodes requiring additional therapy to control the rejection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac and Cardiopulmonary Transplantation, Texas Heart Institute, St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lonquist
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Radovancevic
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Burnett
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Birovljev
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Saade
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Duncan
authors.forename: O H
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Frazier
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone