title: Pulsed methylprednisolone therapy compared to high dose prednisone in systemic lupus erythematosus nephritis.
abstract: This study was done to determine whether intravenous methylprednisolone therapy given concomitantly with low-dose daily, oral prednisone would be as effective as high-dose daily prednisone in the treatment of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) nephritis. Thirteen patients with active SLE nephritis were started on 2 mg/kg prednisone per day, considered the high prednisone phase. Therapy was continued until remission was achieved. Prednisone administration was then tapered to less than 0.5 but more than 0.2 mg/kg per day. On later relapse, these patients received three doses of methylprednisolone (20 mg/kg per dose) on alternate days and continued on the same daily dose of prednisone (less than 0.5 greater than 0.2 mg/kg per day) prior to pulse therapy; this was the methylprednisolone phase. The 13 patients were studied in both phases, serving as their own controls. After 1 month of therapy, no significant differences were observed between treatment phases as to improvement in clinical and laboratory findings. A significant increase in the serum concentration of C3 and C4 was seen both in the high-dose prednisone and methylprednisolone phases, while the serum concentration of anti-ds DNA antibody significantly decreased. Methylprednisolone therapy seems as effective as high-dose prednisone in patients with relapse of SLE nephritis. Because side effects are minimal, methylprednisolone administration may be tried as the therapy of choice for these patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000032:analysis; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000032:analysis; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; D003181:Complement C4; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone; D008775:Methylprednisolone