title: Meta-analysis of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy.
abstract: A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the efficacy of methylprednisolone pulse therapy for Graves' ophthalmopathy. Eight studies involving 376 patients were included. A higher effective rate was found for patients treated with intravenous glucocorticoids (IVGC) over oral glucocorticoids (OGC) (risk ratio [RR] = 1.48; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18-1.86). The combined IVGC and orbital radiotherapy (OR) was markedly more effective than OGC+OR (RR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.11-1.77). IVGC resulted in an obvious reduction of clinical activity score (CAS) compared with OGC, with a weighted mean difference (WMD) of 0.86 (95% CI = 0.53-1.18). The WMD for the reduction of the CAS between IVGC+OR and OGC+OR was 0.66 (95% CI = 0.30-1.02). IVGC is an effective treatment and cause fewer adverse events. Limiting the total cumulative dose of methylprednisolone, careful patient selection and monitoring the condition of patients during treatment are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Eye and ENT Hospital Affiliated with Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Key Laboratory of Myopia, Ministry of Health PR China, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Guohong
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Jinhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Yifeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D011878:Radiotherapy
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: Graves' ophthalmopathy; drug therapy; glucocorticoid; meta-analysis