[Pulse therapy (high doses of venous methylprednisolone) in children with rheumatic carditis. Prospective study of 40 episodes].
OBJECTIVE
To use corticosteroids in a shorter period to treat rheumatic carditis, keeping the patient in the hospital; and verify the time interval of normalization of rheumatic activity tests with this method.


METHODS
In 36 patients (40 episodes) intravenous methyl-prednisolone (1g/day) was administered. The number of series ranged from two to four, according to severity of the disease. The ages ranged from 6 to 17 years old, all of them fulfilled the criteria of Jones for diagnosis of rheumatic fever. They were submitted to treatment to eradicate the streptococcus, worms, PPD and dental focus extraction, before use of corticosteroids.


RESULTS
In all patients the signals and symptoms of heart failure improved. In six cases occurred complications during pulse therapy that were easily controlled with clinical measures. Two series of methylprednisolone were used in 10 children, three in nine and four in 21 episodes. Eight patients were sent to valve replacement. The interval of time that laboratory tests of rheumatic activity became negative was 41.2 +/- 13.3 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Using this IV corticotherapy it was possible decrease the amount of days of this medication, keeping the patient in the hospital. In this way we eliminate the problem of interruption of the treatment. There was not significative difference between oral and IV corticotherapy in order to the laboratory tests become negative.
Herdy
G V
GV
Hospital Universitário Antônio Pedro, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, RJ.
Couto
A A
AA
Fernandes
J C
JC
de Olivaes
M C
MC
Berger
R
R
Elias
V E
VE
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D008775:Methylprednisolone
Pulsoterapia (altas doses de metil-prednisolona venosa) em crianças com cardite reumática. Estudo prospectivo de 40 episódios.