Dexamethasone-cyclophosphamide pulse therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
Therapy systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been generally discouraging. Methyl-prednisolone pulse therapy has been used for various connective tissue disorders. We used intravenous dexamethasone cyclophosphamide pulse therapy to treat SLE.


METHODS
Fourteen patients (10 females and 4 males) between the age of 15-48 years with definite or classical clinical criteria laid by American Rheumatism Association criteria were treated by Dexamethasone-Cyclophosphamide pulse (DCP) therapy at our center.


RESULTS
It was possible to induce a complete clinical remission with DCP therapy in most of the patients thereby offering them life free from disease and drugs. The side effects commonly observed with conventional daily dose regimen of corticosteroids were not present or were mild.


CONCLUSIONS
Almost all patients had good response after 3-4 pulses to allow them a normal life style. Fever, malar rash and oral ulceration responded early but photosensitivity, discoid rash, alopecia and joint pains took some more time.
Dhabhai
Ravindra
R
Departments of Skin and V. D., Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.
Kalla
G
G
Singhi
M K
MK
Ghiya
B C
BC
Kachhawa
Dilip
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003907:Dexamethasone; D003520:Cyclophosphamide