title: Low-dose corticosteroids reduce relapses in neuromyelitis optica: a retrospective analysis.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a relapsing neurologic disease characterized by severe optic neuritis and transverse myelitis. A disease-modifying therapy for NMO has not been established. We retrospectively analysed the effect of low-dose corticosteroid (CS) monotherapy on the annual relapse rate in nine patients with NMO. We divided the clinical course in each patient into two periods; the CS Period in which CS was administered, and the No CS Period in which CS was not administered. Periods related to other immunological therapies, such as high-dose methylprednisolone, immunosuppressants, interferon-beta, and plasma exchange, were excluded. As a result, the annual relapse rate during the CS Periods [median, 0.49 (range, 0-1.31)] was found to be significantly lower than that during the No CS Periods [1.48 (0.65-5.54)]. As for the dose of CS, relapses occurred significantly more frequently with ;10 mg/day or less' than with ;over 10 mg/day' (odds ratio: 8.75). The results of the present study suggest a beneficial effect of low-dose CS monotherapy in reducing relapses in NMO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Misu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujihara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Itoyama
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones