[Use of glucocorticoid in treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome cases].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effect of glucocorticoid in the treatment for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).


METHODS
Clinical data of 70 patients with SARS admitted to Youan Hospital in Beijing during March to May, 2003 were analyzed.


RESULTS
(1) Sixty-three of 70 cases of SARS recovered and seven cases died, with a case-fatality ratio of 10%. (2) Average length of hospital stay was 16.9 days for the all 70 cases, and 16.8 days for the 11 cases without glucocorticoid treatment, without statistical significance (F = 1.018, P = 0.39). (3) The other 59 cases were administered with 40 mg to 640 mg of methylprednisolone daily. (4) Average hospital stay was 15 days for the 23 cases with lower dose of 40 mg to 80 mg methylprednisolone daily, 18.5 days for the 27 cases with medium dose of 120 mg to 240 mg daily, and 17.9 days for the nine cases with higher dose of 320 mg to 640 mg daily (F = 1.018, P = 0.39).


CONCLUSIONS
Earlier use of glucocorticoid therapy with suitable doses could alleviate their clinical symptoms, improve their clinical courses, and promote the absorbance of infiltration in their lungs on chest-X-ray films for the cases with SARS. However, current clinical data showed that glucocorticoid therapy could not shorten the length of hospitalization for the cases with SARS.
Meng
Qing-hua
QH
Department of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Youan Hospital, Affiliated of Capital University of Medical Science, Beijing 100054, China.
Dong
Pei-ling
PL
Guo
Yan-bin
YB
Zhang
Ke
K
Liang
Lian-chun
LC
Hou
Wei
W
Dong
Jin-ling
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone