STEROID THERAPY: STILL A NEED FOR ANSWERS

ABSTRACT: Various methods of steroid administration are reviewed, with emphasis on single dose alternate‐day oral administration as compared with daily administration. Alternate‐day therapy produces less adrenal and pituitary gland suppression and a reduced frequency of cushingoid features. Furthermore, the ability to resist infection is evidently better preserved. However, an overall therapeutic advantage cannot be claimed as there are few clinical trials with which to make a direct comparison. The numerous studies dealing with this form of therapy lack the rigorous control needed to answer the question of whether alternate‐day steroid therapy should be substituted for daily therapy in certain diseases.