Oral pulsed high-dose dexamethasone for myositis.
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.
van der Meulen
M F
MF
Department of Neurology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.F.G.vdMeulen@neuro.azu.nl
Hoogendijk
J E
JE
Wokke
J H
JH
de Visser
M
M
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
D003907:Dexamethasone