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EFFICACY OF DEXAMETHASONE PULSE THERAPY IN PROGRESSIVE SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Author(s) -
PAI BALLAMBAT SATHISH,
SRINIVAS CHAKRAVARTHI R.,
SABITHA LAKSHMINARAYANAN,
SHENOI SHRUTAKIRTHI D.,
BALACHANDRAN CHANDRASEKHARAN N.,
ACHARYA SANDHYA
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
international journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1365-4632
pISSN - 0011-9059
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-4362.1995.tb04664.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dexamethasone , systemic therapy , etiology , pulse (music) , systemic disease , multiple sclerosis , corticosteroid , disease , surgery , immunology , cancer , detector , breast cancer , electrical engineering , engineering
Background. Systemic sclerosis is a disease of unknown etiology for which no specific treatment is effective. Pulse therapy with corticosteroids has been tried for various autoimmune disorders with minimal side effects. We undertook this study to determine the efficacy of dexamethasone pulse therapy in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Methods. Five women with PSS between the ages 30 and 60 years, received 100 mg dexamethasone in 500 mL of 5% dextrose by slow intravenous infusion over 3 hours for 3 consecutive days, once a month. Results. All patients had symptomatic and clinical improvement. The vital capacity improved in three and posttreatment histopathologic regression was seen in two patients. Conclusions. Dexamethasone pulse therapy may provide an additional option for treating systemic sclerosis.