methylprednisolone i.v m.s

We studied anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies (ARAb) in 25 patients with myasthenia gravis before and after the immunosuppressive drug (steroid) therapy and in 22 patients before and after thymectomy. The clinical effect after the treatment was correlated with the reduction of ARAb levels by more than 20% in 62% of patients. The ARAb levels did not change, or even increased, in 15% patients despite the improvement of their clinical state. We showed the direct correlation between the clinical improvement and the decrease of ARAb level...

The aim of this work is to describe the outcome of a series of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related vasculitis who were treated with corticosteroids and I.V. cyclophosphamide without receiving any antiviral therapy. The data of 16 patients with HCV infection and vasculitis were retrospectively analyzed for the treatment outcome in the present study. Eleven patients were females (68.8%) with a mean age of 49.6 ± 10.0 years. Nine patients (56.2%) had medium-sized vessel vasculitis (group A) and seven patients (43...

In active Graves' orbitopathy (GO), proinflammatory cytokines predominate. Circulating thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)-receptor antibodies (TRAb) have been correlated with GO clinical activity and severity. In preliminary studies rituximab (RTX), an anti-CD 20 monoclonal antibody, has induced clinical improvement of active GO without a change in serum anti-thyroid antibodies. We have studied whether RTX in GO acts by affecting proinflammatory cytokines and thyroid and orbital-directed antibodies. Ten patients with GO were treated with RTX, administered twice intravenously (i...

The authors present their experience in diagnosing and treating interstitial nephritis with the development of chronic renal failure in a patient with generalized sarcoidosis, by involving the intrathoracic and peripheral lymph nodes, liver, spleen, subcutaneous fat, lung, as well as with the severe salivary and lachrymal gland lesions that imitate the clinical picture of Schogren's disease.

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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) is the leading cause of secondary osteoporosis. Clinical evidence suggests a role for genistein aglycone in the treatment of post-menopausal osteopenia although proof of efficacy in comparison with currently available treatments is still lacking. To clarify this issue, we investigated the effects of genistein on bone compared with alendronate in experimental GIO. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A total of 28 female Sprague-Dawley rats were used...

The present study compared the effects of early short-term with prolonged low-dose corticosteroid therapy in acute lung injury (ALI). In total, 120 BALB/c mice were randomly divided into five groups. In the control group, saline was intratracheally (i.t.) instilled. In the ALI group, mice received Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (10 microg i.t.). ALI animals were further randomised into four subgroups to receive saline (0.1 mL i.v.) or methylprednisolone (2 mg x kg(-1) i.v.) at 6 h, 24 h or daily (for 7 days, beginning at day 1)...

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether percentages of CD4(+)CD25(high) T cells (a group of regulatory T cells, Treg) differ in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in relapse vs remission after glucocorticoid treatment and whether treatment for relapses changes Treg population and the expression of Foxp3, a key Treg-associated molecule. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were obtained from 20 patients with MS during relapse, just before and 2 days after starting steroid treatment (i...

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) was given to 23 patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD (aGVHD, grade II (n=10), III (n=7) or IV (n=6)). The median duration of ECP was 7 months (1-33) and the median number of ECP cycles in each patient was 10. Twelve patients (52%) had complete responses. Eleven patients (48%) survived and 12 died, 10 of GVHD with or without infections and two of leukaemia relapse. The average grade of GVHD was reduced from 2.8 (on the first day of ECP) to 1.4 (on day +90 from ECP) (P=0...

PURPOSE: To study the outcome of therapy for acute endothelial graft rejection with an intravenous (i.v.) pulse of dexamethasone vs methylprednisolone, in addition to topical corticosteroids. METHODS: Records of 98 eyes of 99 patients treated for endothelial graft rejection with a single i.v. pulse of dexamethasone or methylprednisolone in addition to topical steroids, between January 1999 and June 2004, were retrospectively reviewed. Baseline characteristics such as surgery-rejection interval, time taken to consult after onset of symptoms, history of failed grafts, extent of stromal vascularization, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and corneal thickness at the time of presentation were noted...

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is one of the most common and important regimen-related toxicities observed after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). There are no universally accepted preventative or therapeutic approaches for VOD. We prospectively evaluated the safety and efficacy of a short course of methylprednisolone (MP) in 48 patients undergoing allogeneic HSCT who were diagnosed with hepatic VOD. MP was administered at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg i.v. every 12 h for a total of 14 doses, and then discontinued without taper...

Vasculitis of the nervous system is a rare cause of multifocal neurologic symptoms and may involve both the central and peripheral nervous systems. Typical symptoms include headache, encephalopathy with cognitive impairment and psychotic symptoms, epileptic seizures, and peripheral neuropathies. Here we report the case of a 71-year-old female presenting with Raynaud's syndrome and paresthesia of the feet. Several weeks later she was admitted to our hospital with a status epilepticus and complex partial seizures...

There is now controlled evidence that a 6-month course with methylprednisolone and chlorambucil may favour remission of the nephrotic syndrome and may significantly improve the 10-year kidney survival in patients with idiopathic membranous nephropathy. We analyzed the outcome of 15 nephrotic patients (proteinuria 7.06 +/- 1.07 g/d), stage II-III membranous nephropathy, aged 37.93 +/- 2.32, 8 males and 7 females, with normal serum creatinine (62.8 +/- 2.34 micromol/l), followed > 10 years after the treatment...

BACKGROUND: A number of haematological malignancies can be cured by allogeneic stem cell transplantation but only approximately 30% of Australians have a suitable histocompatible related donor. Matched donors can be found on international registries of unrelated volunteers for a proportion of the remaining patients. For those patients in need of an allogeneic transplant, but for whom a suitable matched related or unrelated adult donor cannot be found, the use of banked unrelated umbilical cord blood has emerged as a potential option...

A nonhuman primate (NHP) study was designed to evaluate in nonlife-supporting kidney allografts the progression from acute rejection with transplant endarteritis (TXA) to chronic rejection (CR) with sclerosing vasculopathy. Group G1 (n = 6) received high cyclosporine A (CsA) immunosuppression and showed neither TXA nor CR during 90 days post-transplantation. Group G2 (n = 6) received suboptimal CsA immunosuppression and showed severe TXA with graft loss within 46 days (median). Arterial intimal changes included infiltration of macrophages and T lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD8) with few myofibroblasts, abundant fibronectin/collagen IV, scant collagens I/III, high rate of cellular proliferation and no C4d accumulation along peritubular capillaries...

BACKGROUND: Ketamine has been claimed to prevent acute opioid tolerance and hyperalgesia following acute exposure to opioids and its use has been proposed to decrease postoperative morphine consumption. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, controlled study to evaluate the effect of intravenous (i.v.) ketamine on postoperative pain for 48 h after major ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgery. Thirty-one patients received i.v. ketamine 0.15 mg kg(-1) before induction and 2 microg kg(-1) min(-1) during anaesthesia, and 31 patients were administered placebo in a similar manner...

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVE: Although Bracken et al have demonstrated a significant neuroprotective effect of high-dose intravenous (i.v.) methylprednisolone (MP) within 8 h post spinal cord injury (SCI), this practice has recently been challenged. We hypothesized it is possible that acute corticosteroid myopathy (ACM) may occur secondary to the MP. This pilot study was performed to test this hypothesis. SETTING: University of Miami School of Medicine/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami VA Medical Center, FL, USA...

We designed a phase I trial to assess the feasibility of the combination of topotecan, Ara-C, cisplatin and solumedrol (TOPOSHAP) in patients with relapsed or primary refractory lymphomas. We included 9 patients with measurable non-Hodgkin's (n = 8) and Hodgkin's (n = 1) lymphomas. Level 1 consisted of topotecan 1.0 mg/m(2)/day, i.v., given on days 1-3, cisplatin 25 mg/m(2)/day, i.v., on days 1-3, Ara-C 500 mg/m(2), i.v., on day 4, methylprednisolone 250 mg, i.v., on days 1-4. The regimen was repeated every 3-4 weeks...

INTRODUCTION: In a number of controlled trials it was established that mitoxantrone has a beneficial effect on disease progression in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a worsening disease course. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of mitoxantrone in clinical practice, and especially to describe predictive parameters of its effectiveness under these conditions. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: In a retrospective, open-label mitoxantrone study we analysed 94 MS patients (49% relapsing remitting MS (RRMS), 41% secondary progressive MS and 10% primary progressive MS) who received monthly 20 mg i...

BACKGROUND: Traumatic lesion to the optic nerve often leads to severe and persistent functional loss. HISTORY AND SIGNS: A male patient was transferred to our hospital from the University Eye Clinic of Guadeloupe 5 days after ocular injury caused by a flying fish. Visual function was light perception. The anterior part of the eye and retina were unremarkable. A computer tomography disclosed a fracture of the sphenoid sinus, with a little bone fragment (DD: foreign body) located close to the optic nerve...