title: Characteristics of adverse effects when using high dose short term steroid regimen.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the adverse effect of long term steroid usage is well known, the adverse effect of short term high dose steroid usage has not been studied thoroughly. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of the adverse effects when using a high dose steroid for a short term. We also compared the adverse effect of steroid between in- and out-patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The medical record of 500 patients, who were treated with methylprednisolone 48 mg/day for 1-2 weeks, was retrospectively reviewed. Steroid was prescribed due to SSNHL, Bell's palsy, Ramsay-Hunt syndrome and herpes zoster oticus. The incidence of each adverse effect was analyzed, and also the time point of detection was analyzed. The 500 patients were composed of 250 in-patients and 250 out-patients. The adverse effect was compared between these two groups, as well.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adverse effect of steroid was found in 33.0% of the patients. Among these adverse effects, abdominal discomfort (26.8%) was most common, followed by skin rash (14.7%), swelling (13.4%), and hot flush (6.9%). Abdominal discomfort and hot flush was mostly detected on the first week. Meanwhile, the skin rash was usually detected on the third week. The incidence of adverse effect was significantly higher in the out-patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of high dose short term steroid treatment may be very high. The patients should be warned about these adverse effects. Monitoring should be performed until 3-4 week, since some adverse effects may not be detected until this time point.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Chung-Ku
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Whan
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Suh
keywords: Abdominal discomfort; Adverse effect; Hot flush; Rash; Steroid; Swelling