title: Methylprednisolone pulses and urine electrolyte excretion.
abstract: The mineralocorticoid activity of methylprednisolone pulses was assessed by measurement of urine electrolyte excretion prior to and during alternate day pulsing in patients with skin or joint disease. Two groups were studied: the first receiving pulses, but no other steroid; the second having taken oral prednisolone prior to and during pulsing. Urine sodium excretion in 24 hr urine specimens from both groups was suppressed, with no rebound between pulses, but a gradual "escape" occurred from the effects of continued pulsing. Four hour urine collections demonstrated suppression of urinary sodium excretion for up to 32 hr after pulsing with gradual recovery. The peak recovery in sodium excretion coincided with the subsequent pulse and was insufficient to compensate for the preceding sodium retention. Alternate day pulsing does not, therefore, reduce the risk of sodium retention from large doses of methylprednisolone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Southampton, St. Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, Great Britain.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Waller
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Barrett
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polak
mesh_terms: D004573:Electrolytes / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D008775:Methylprednisolone