Trial of intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone in the treatment of severe systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Not uncommonly, some children with systemic-onset juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) have persistently active disease with joint destruction and profound growth delay despite maximum treatment with known medications. Based on previous observations of improvement in synovitis following intravenous (I.V.) cyclophosphamide (CYC) and methylprednisolone (MP) treatments, a group of children with severe systemic-onset JRA was treated in an attempt to control active synovitis and to allow tapering of corticosteroids.


METHODS
Four patients with systemic-onset JRA were continued on a daily regimen of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents and prednisone, with a weekly subcutaneous dose of methotrexate (1 mg/kg). In addition, 1 patient continued receiving sulfasalazine and 1 patient remained on a regimen of sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine. Patients received 6-10 monthly treatments of I.V. CYC (500-1,000 mg/m2) and MP (30 mg/kg; 1 gm maximum) accompanied by I.V. mesna and large amounts of I.V. fluids. Subsequent treatments were given once every 2-3 months.


RESULTS
After 12-20 I.V. pulses of CYC, all patients showed improvement, and 3 achieved remission of disease. All were able to discontinue corticosteroid use and all had an increase in linear growth.


CONCLUSIONS
Monthly I.V. pulse CYC treatments can be useful to control disease in selected children with severe, destructive JRA.
Wallace
C A
CA
Children's Hospital and Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle 98105, USA.
Sherry
D D
DD
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008775:Methylprednisolone