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The effects of single‐dose alternate‐day prednisone therapy on the immunological status of patients with neuromuscular diseases
Author(s) -
Cook J. D.,
Trotter J. L.,
Engel W. K.,
Sciabbarrasi J. S.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410030213
Subject(s) - prednisone , leukocytosis , medicine , lymphocyte , null cell , immunology , endocrinology , biology , cell culture , genetics
Several immunological variables were examined in patients receiving high‐single‐dose, alternate‐day prednisone therapy for neuromuscular diseases. Dose‐dependent leukocytosis, lymphopenia, and monocytopenia occurred which were maximal 6 hours after prednisone administration but returned to control levels by the 24‐hour point. The lymphopenia involved T‐cells, B‐cells, and null cells, with the T‐cells most affected. Plasma cortisol levels and lymphocyte transformation in response to mitogens were also transiently and reversibly suppressed. There was a persistent decrease in serum IgG. Lymphocyte transformation was also suppressed when normal lymphocytes were incubated with treated patient sera or when treated patient lymphocytes were incubated in autologous pretreatment sera. The suppression factor was not removed from the lymphocytes by extensive washing. Patients whose disease responded to the high‐single‐dose, alternate‐day prednisone regimen were indistinguishable from nonresponders by the immunological responses measured.