title: The effects of intravenous pulse methylprednisolone on immunological and inflammatory processes in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Acute phase reactants, serum immunoglobulins and immune complexes and T cell function were measured in eight patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) before and up to 3 months after three pulses of 1 g methylprednisolone. There was a two stage effect. The first stage was an early anti-inflammatory event with a fall in clinical disease activity mirrored by changes in acute phase reactants particularly prealbumin. The second stage occurred later and was an immunological event with a fall in serum IgA and IgG and a rise in mitogenic response, mixed lymphocyte response and delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity. Most of these changes returned towards pre-treatment levels by 3 months. This study has shown that pulse methylprednisolone has an immediate anti-inflammatory and a prolonged immunological effect in AS.
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011228:Prealbumin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008775:Methylprednisolone