Treatment of optic neuritis with megadose corticosteroids.
Difficulty in distinguishing between monosymptomatic optic neuritis due to autoimmune disease or to intrinsic demyelination in young adults prompted a trial administration of megadose corticosteroids in a series of patients. Treatment with 1 g daily of intravenous methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol) for 2 to 5 days led to the rapid resolution and restoration of visual function in five patients. Two untreated patients suffered irreversible loss of vision. One patient with known autoimmune disease required a higher dose. The author suggests a trial of megadose, intravenous corticosteroids in patients between the ages of 21 and 45 years with optic neuropathies of uncertain or suspected autoimmune etiology after appropriate neuro-ophthalmologic evaluation.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D011239:Prednisolone