Mortality-lowering effect of systemic corticosteroid therapy in severe tetanus.
In a double-blind therapeutic trial, 32 patients suffering from severe tetanus were given prednisolone and 31 a placebo in addition to standard treatment. Mortality was lower in the prednisolone-treated group (31%) than in the placebo-treated group (55%). The women had more severe symptoms and a higher mortality than the men. The results suggest that the addition of a corticosteroid to standard treatment will lower mortality in tetanus, although meticulous nursing care is still the most important factor in treatment.
Paydaş
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Marmara University Medical School, Istanbul, Turkey.
Akoğlu
T F
TF
Akkiz
H
H
Ozer
F L
FL
Burgut
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013742:Tetanus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000276:immunology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin; D011239:Prednisolone