title: Short-term safety of pulse steroid therapy in multiple sclerosis relapses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the short-term safety of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone in acute attacks of multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective study, we evaluated the patients with MS who received high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone for acute attacks. By repeated physical and laboratory examinations and history taking, patients were assessed for adverse effects that would be related to pulse therapy before, within, and 3 months after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-four patients with definite MS with acute attack were enrolled in the study in which 46 (71.9%) were female. Fifty-eight patients (90.6%) developed minor adverse effects of which the most common were palpitation, flashing, dyspepsia, insomnia, and virulent taste. On the other hand, 12 patients (18.75%) developed major adverse effects, and the most common was sinus tachycardia. Six patients (9.3%) were without any adverse effects. There was a significant relationship between the dosage of methylprednisolone (3 or 5 g) and the occurrence of major adverse effects (P = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study approved that high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone is a safe treatment in MS attacks and the short-term adverse effects were mostly minor and transient.
authors: Department of Neurology, Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors: Vahid
authors: V
authors: Shaygannejad
authors: Fereshteh
authors: F
authors: Ashtari
authors: Mahsa
authors: M
authors: Alinaghian
authors: Rasul
authors: R
authors: Norouzi
authors: Mehri
authors: M
authors: Salari
authors: Farzad
authors: F
authors: Fatehi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone