title: Oral pulsed high-dose dexamethasone for myositis.
abstract: To study the short-term effect of oral pulsed high-dose dexamethasone for myositis we treated eight newly diagnosed patients with three 28-day cycles of oral dexamethasone. Primary outcome measures were muscle strength, pain, and serum creatine kinase activity. Six patients responded. Side effects were mild. At follow-up five responders were still in remission, without medication. Pulsed high-dose dexamethasone seems beneficial in myositis. A larger, prednisone-controlled trial is justified to analyze long-term efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.F.G.vdMeulen@neuro.azu.nl
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: van der Meulen
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hoogendijk
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Wokke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Visser
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009220:Myositis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone