title: [Corticosteroid therapy and changes in chest radiogram in five patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between corticosteroid therapy and kinetic changes in chest X-ray in five patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
  
  
  METHODS
  With the identical underlying therapy (levofloxacin or ceftriaxone and macrolide), intravenous methylprednisolone was given at 80 mg twice a day in five patients, and its effect on the development of chest radiogram was observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chest X-rays radiogram showed significant changes until peak stage (4-12 days) with the same doses of methylprednisolone, but it was dissolved consistently afterwards.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is appeared that corticosteroid therapy has no marked effect on the development of chest radiogram in patients with SARS. It might indicate there is self-limited in course of SARS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical College, Ningxia 750004, China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Xi-wei
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000150:complications; D011859:Radiography; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones