title: Nutritonal evaluation of pemphigus foliaceus patients on long term glucocorticoid therapy.
abstract: Our objective was to compare food intake and nutritional status of Pemphigus Foliaceus patients (PG) on long term glucocorticoid therapy to a Control Group (CG). Fourteen PG female inpatients receiving prednisone (0.33 +/- 0.22mg/kg) for at least 12 months and twelve CG subjects were submitted to nutritional evaluation, including anthropometry, urinary creatinine determination and serum biochemical measurements, besides 48-h-based food intake records. Groups were compared by Chi-square, Mann-Whitney and "t" tests. PG patients and CG were paired, respectively, in relation to age (24.7 +/- 14.1 vs. 22.0 +/- 12.0 years), body mass index (25.8 +/- 6.4 vs. 24.0 +/- 5.6kg/m2), daily protein intake (132.9 +/- 49.8 vs. 95.2 +/- 58.9g), and serum albumin (median; range) (3.8; 3.5-4.1 vs. 3.8; 3.6-5.0g/dl). However, PG patients had lower height-creatinine index (64.8 +/- 17.6 vs. 90.1 +/- 33.4%), and higher daily energy (3080 +/- 1099 vs. 2187 +/- 702kcal) and carbohydrate (376.8 +/- 135.8 vs. 242.0 +/- 80.7g) intakes. Despite high food, protein and energy consumption, PG patients on long term glucocorticoid therapy had lower body muscle mass than controls, while showing high body fat stores. These findings are possibly related to combined metabolic effects of long term corticotherapy and inflammatory disease plus corticosteroid-induced increased appetite.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil. dfcnutro@mednet.com.br
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Marssaro
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Muniz
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: da Silva Gomes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004435:Eating; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012709:Serum Albumin; D003404:Creatinine; D011241:Prednisone