Effect of divided daily dose prednisone therapy on circulating T cell subsets.
Prednisone induced reductions in the circulating human T cell population follow a characteristic time curve which persists even after a single daily dose of oral prednisone has been administered many times. If prednisone doses are administered every 6 h, so that a dose occurs near the point of maximum response from a previous dose (4-6 h), the reduction in size of the circulating T cell population will persist so long as administration of prednisone continues. A chronically depressed ratio of OKT4+ to OKT8+ cells is observed in most patients when as little as 2.5 mg of prednisone is administered every 6 h.
D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D011241:Prednisone