Intravenous pulsed steroids in rheumatoid arthritis: a comparative dose study.
This prospective, double blind study was undertaken to test the efficacy of intravenous "minipulse" (100 mg) methylprednisolone (MP) therapy versus standard pulse (1000 mg) MP therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Thirty-six patients with RA synovitis flares were randomized to receive either 100 or 1000 mg MP IV QD x 3 doses. These 2 universally comparable groups exhibited no statistically significant differences in their striking prompt and sustained clinical improvement. These data suggest that minipulse MP is as efficacious as conventional pulse MP in the treatment of RA flares.
Iglehart
I W
IW
Division of Rheumatology, The Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Good Samaritan Hospital, Baltimore, MD.
Sutton
J D
JD
Bender
J C
JC
Shaw
R A
RA
Ziminski
C M
CM
Holt
P A
PA
Hochberg
M C
MC
Zizic
T M
TM
Engle
E W
EW
Stevens
M B
MB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008775:Methylprednisolone