title: A controlled trial of alternate day prednisolone as a maintenance treatment for ulcerative colitis in remission.
abstract: A double-blind crossover trial compared prednisolone, 40 mg given orally on alternate days, with placebo as a maintenance treatment for ulcerative colitis in remission. In each patient, the study was over two periods of 3 months. Of 24 patients who completed both periods, 11 relapsed while taking placebo but not while taking prednisolone, and 1 relapsed on prednisolone but did not on placebo (p less than 0.01). 1 patient had to stop prednisolone because of hyperglycaemia; other side effects noted were mild. Prednisolone, cautiously used in this way, could be justified for the few patients who relapse frequently despite sulphasalazine.
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D011239:Prednisolone