title: Pulse dexamethasone therapy versus pulse methylprednisolone therapy for treatment of Graves's ophthalmopathy.
abstract: Pulse methylprednisolone therapy is the recommended therapy for moderate to severe and active ophthalmopathy, but high dose pulse methylprednisolone therapy is marred by the chances of fulminant hepatic failure and the high cost of therapy. Dexamethasone pulse therapy can be considered as an alternative to pulse methylprednisolone therapy. A prospective randomized control trial was carried out in 21 patients comparing pulse dexamethasone therapy versus pulse methyprednisolone therapy in Graves's ophthalmopathy. This study proved that pulse dexamethasone therapy is a cheaper and equally effective therapy for Graves's ophthalmopathy and the cost of therapy is reduced to at least 1/8(th) s. Furthermore, dexa had a better effect on reduction of exophthalmos. The dreaded complication of fulminant hepatic failure, associated with high dose of methylprednisolone, is not seen with dexa therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, LLRM Medical College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Philip
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saran
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutch
authors.forename: Pushpaltha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agroyia
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tyagi
authors.forename: Keshavkumar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: Graves’ ophthalmopathy; pulse dexamethasone therapy; pulse methylprednisolone therapy