Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Prednisone”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 433 records · Page 24Linked to original sources

Comparison of daily versus intermittent chlorambucil and prednisone therapy in the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Ninety-six patients with stage III and stage IV chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were randomized into one of three treatment schedules. Prednisone was common to all three schedules and was given daily in an initial dosage of 0.8 mg/kg for the first 14 days, with successive halving of the daily dose on days 15 and 29 for a total 6-wk course. Prednisone was then given once a month at 0.8 mg/kg once a day for each of 7 consecutive days. Schedule I was prednisone plus chlorambucil (CLB) given as a once-a-month dose of 0.4-0.8 mg/kg; schedule II was both drugs, but the CLB was given as a daily dose of 0.08 mg/kg; schedule III was prednisone alone. Complete and partial remission (CR + PR) was 47% for schedule I, 38% for schedule II, and 11% for schedule III. Patients who responded (CR + PR) in each of the treatment schedules survived longer than the nonresponders. Complete remission was obtained in both CLB treatment schedules, but not with the prednisone alone regimen. Although overall survival was best in the intermittent CLB arm, there was no significant difference in survival time between the three treatment schedules. Toxicity was minimal in all three regimens. Augmentation of the intermittent monthly CLB, even to 1.5 and 2.0 mg/kg, was tolerated without undue marrow toxicity. About 22% of these patients either had diabetes mellitus at the time of entry on the study or manifested hyperglycemia during the course of treatment and observation.

Anemia↗

Weekly cyclophosphamide and alternate-day prednisone: an effective secondary therapy in multiple myeloma.

Intravenous or oral cyclophosphamide, 150-250 mg/m2 (500 mg maximum), once per week with alternate-day oral prednisone, 100 mg, was given to 57 myeloma patients resistant to melphalan and prednisone (MP). Seven responses in 28 primary MP-resistant patients and ten responses in 29 secondary MP-resistant patients were observed. Previous response to MP was not a significant factor in predicting response to weekly cyclophosphamide and alternate-day prednisone. The results suggest that the regimen of weekly cyclophosphamide and alternate-day prednisone may be as effective as more aggressive regimens in the treatment of patients with myeloma who have failed MP therapy. However, a randomized trial would be required to determine the relative contributions of cyclophosphamide and prednisone to the effectiveness of this regimen.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Low dose prednisone therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind study.

Prednisone, 5 mg taken each morning, was added to other drugs in 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Sixteen patients were given a placebo in this double blind study. After 24 weeks, all patients were given the placebo. Slight functional improvement was noted in the prednisone group during the 24-week period, but deterioration after switching to placebo was sustained for at least 8 weeks. Progression of hand erosions occurred in 1 prednisone-treated patient, and in 4 controls. An asymptomatic vertebral spine compression fracture developed in 2 patients given prednisone; this was the only toxicity noted possibly due to this therapy. Minimal dose prednisone may be useful as "bridge" therapy between nonsteroidal antiinflammatory therapy and use of disease-modifying drugs.

Adolescent↗

A prospective study of methylprednisolone and prednisone as immunosuppressive agents in clinical renal transplantation.

A prospective double blind crossover study was carried out in 65 patients comparing methylprednisolone (Medrol) and prednisone as immunosuppressive agents in clinical renal transplantation to determine their relative merits vis-a-vis graft survival, hypertension, weight gain, sepsis and patient preference in the posttransplant period. Patients receiving renal allografts were randomly assigned to receive initial treatment with one of the drugs. Once maintenance doses were employed, the drug was switched for a 3-month period. There was no difference in overall graft survival at 1 year, 68% versus 56% (p greater than 0.4), for the two patient groups. Likewise, there was no difference in blood pressure during the maintenance therapy crossover period, mean BP 129/86 during Medrol therapy and 129/86 during prednisone therapy. Overall weight gain was not statistically different with the two drugs, 3.8 kg with prednisone and 2.3 kg with Medrol, p greater than 0.1. However, when Medrol was used in the late posttransplant period, the patient had a significantly smaller weight gain, 0.95 kg versus 3.5 kg with prednisone, p greater than 0.05. The incidence of bacterial sepsis was significantly greater (p less than 0.02) during the early posttransplant period in those patients treated with Medrol. Finally, the majority of patients (65%) had no preference for either drug. Of those with a preference, the majority (69%) preferred Medrol. We conclude that therapy with Medrol does not offer superior graft survival, less hypertension or overriding patient preference but does apparently lead to an increased incidence of bacterial sepsis in the early posttransplant period. Thus it appears that prednisone is the initial drug of choice as an immunosuppressive steroid in clinical renal transplantation.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Deflazacort in thrombocytopenia: a comparison with prednisone.

Deflazacort is a new glucocorticoid which in previous studies was found to be about 0.8 times as potent as prednisone. Twelve outpatients affected by chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, in whom the maintenance dose of corticosteroid had already been established, were given 6 mg deflazacort for each 5 mg prednisone equivalent. Effectiveness of deflazacort therapy was estimated on the basis of the results of platelet count, bleeding time, tourniquet test, and physical signs related to platelet function. Tolerability was evaluated on the basis of laboratory data, side effects, and body weight. Deflazacort was administered for 54--263 days (mean 114.5) and, at the same mean daily dose of prednisone, succeeded in keeping platelet number unchanged. As far as bleeding time, tourniquet test, and physical signs are concerned, deflazacort therapy gave a further improvement compared to prednisone. Both treatments were very well tolerated. The high number of white blood cells and neutrophils during prednisone therapy was restored to the normal range by deflazacort.

Adolescent↗

Plasma protein-binding parameters of prednisolone in immune disease patients receiving long-term prednisone therapy.

Prednisone and prednisolone bind in plasma to albumin and transcortin. In am attempt to determine whether prednisone side effects and/or type of disease correlated with prednisolone plasma protein binding, multiple plasma samples from 17 patients (three asthma, eight SLE, three RA, two PSS, one PAN) receiving long-term prednisone therapy were monitored during an interval between two prednisone doses. Prednisolone plasma protein binding was nonlinear and exhibited large intrapatient and interpatient variability. For the group, mean association constants of the prednisolone-albumin complex and the prednisolone-transcortin complex were 2.3 X 10(3) M-1 and 2.9 X 10(7) M-1, with coefficients of variation of 82% and 127%, respectively. SLE patients tended to have lower mean prednisolone association constants for albumin and transcortin than did other patients. The presence of corticosteroid side effects did not correlate with prednisolone plasma protein-binding parameters. The wide range of prednisolone free fraction noted in plasma from patients who achieved comparable total prednisolone plasma concentrations implies that administration of a uniform prednisone dose will not lead to a predictable clinical response.

Adolescent↗

Effect of prednisone on gastric blood flow in swine.

The effect of long-term prednisone treatment on gastric blood flow, as it relates to the development of gastric lesions, was studied. Young pigs were given (IM) saline solution or prednisone (10 mg/kg) each day for various periods. Blood flow was measured, using the radioactive microsphere entrapment technique, at the end of 7, 14, and 21 days of treatment. Pigs treated with prednisone had hemorrhages in the proper gastric (fundic) gland area of the stomach. Blood flow to the mucosa and total wall of the nonglandular, cardiac gland, fundic gland, and pyloric gland regions of the stomach was higher in prednisone-treated pigs. Gastric lesions were not observed in the saline-treated pigs. Regional blood flow to the gastric mucosa increased during the formation of prednisone-induced gastric lesions in swine.

Animals↗

Intravenous methylprednisolone and oral alkylating agent therapy of prednisone-resistant pediatric focal segmental glomerulosclerosis: a long-term follow-up.

UNLABELLED: Prednisone-resistant nephrotic syndrome (NS) due to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), the most common acquired disease requiring chronic dialysis and transplantation in children, has a low likelihood of response to alkylating agent therapy. This report summarizes the results of a 0.75-12.5 (average 6.33) year follow-up of 32 pediatric cases of prednisone-resistant FSGS treated with a regimen of high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (M-P) and alternate-day prednisone, plus an alkylating agent in 25/32. On last followup: 21/32 were in remission [urine protein-to-creatinine ratios (Pru/Cru) < or = 0.2]; 3/32 had mild proteinuria (Pru/Cru > 0.2-0.5); 2/32 had moderate proteinuria (Pru/Cru > 0.5-1.9); and 6/32 remained nephrotic (Pru/Cru > or = 2.0). Of the incomplete or nonresponders; 3/11 progressed to end-stage renal failure; 5/11 had decreased creatinine clearances (CrCl): and 3/11 had persistent proteinuria with normal CrCl. All of the persistently nephrotic children, but none of the complete responders, developed decreased CrCl. All of the complete responders were able to stop treatment; four relapsed but responded well to retreatment. CONCLUSIONS: This regimen of methylprednisolone and alternate-day prednisone, with or without an alkylating agent, is effective in achieving sustained remissions and preserving normal renal function in the great majority of children with FSGS and prednisone-resistant NS.

Child, Preschool↗

The effect of prednisone on pancreatic islet autografts in dogs.

Prednisone was shown to induce hyperglycemia in dogs submitted to total pancreatectomy and pancreatic islet autotransplantation. The hyperglycemia caused by a 10-day course of prednisone, 1 mg/kg/day, starting on the day of operation was reversible within 1 week after steroid discontinuance. Three weeks after prednisone was stopped, there was no detectable adverse effect on glucose homeostasis as judged by fasting blood sugar levels and intravenous glucose tolerance test results. Four months after transplantation, glucose disappearance was delayed in animals previously treated with the prednisone compared with those previously treated with prednisone plus insulin or control animals. This was accompanied by lower insulin values on intravenous glucose tolerance testing and suggests a long-term subtle effect on islet function. The mechanism of the steroid effect is not known. However, this model could be used to test the diabetogenicity of other immunosuppressive agents including cyclosporine, FK 506, and azathioprine.

Animals↗

Immunosuppressants and prednisone in pemphigus vulgaris: therapeutic results obtained in 63 patients between 1961 and 1975.

Evaluation of the treatment in 63 patients with pemphigus vulgaris showed that six patients (9.5%) died of the consequences of high-dosage prednisone treatment, while 24 patients (38.1%) were free of lesions and not receiving treatment. Immunosuppressants (methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, and azathioprine) are of value in patients with severe pemphigus vulgaris since they often reduce the maintenance dose of prednisone required after high-dosage prednisone treatment. Immunosuppressants are of even greater value in patients in the early, stable stage of pemphigus vulgaris. Of 16 such patients initially treated with a combination of an immunosuppressant and maintenance doses of prednisone not exceeding 40 mg on alternate days, 13 at no time required treatment with higher doses of prednisone. The good results obtained with this method emphasize the importance of diagnosing and treating pemphigus vulgaris in its early stage.

Adult↗

Resolved: Low-dose prednisone is indicated as a standard treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

It is known and has been repeatedly demonstrated that low doses of prednisone or prednisolone (10 mg daily or 5 mg bid) will control most of the inflammatory features of early polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis (Table 2). Also, low doses of prednisolone are known to retard the bony damage of rheumatoid arthritis, and thus these are the original disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Glucocorticoids are potent antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive agents by virtue of their repression of the genomic expression by transcriptional interference, inhibiting such proinflammatory proteins as COX-2, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNFalpha, and adhesion molecules. Nature has produced an ideal antiinflammatory and immunosuppressive agent, namely glucocorticoids, and it is up to us to use it in appropriate situations (e.g., active early inflammatory polyarticular rheumatoid arthritis) and in low doses, frequently daily divided doses. Low doses of glucocorticoids (prednisone or prednisolone) accomplish everything NSAIDs or COX-2 inhibitors accomplish but with more antiinflammatory effects, fewer side effects, and much less expense. It is certainly possible (but not precisely tested) that low doses of prednisone (prednisolone) enhance the effects of other DMARDs, including anti-TNF agents. The side effects of low-dose glucocorticoids are minimal. By using concomitant calcium and vitamin D and monitoring bone status with DEXA scans, the osteopenia potential of low doses of prednisone will be minimal. The use of low-dose prednisone without NSAIDs will put the patient at very little risk for stomach ulceration and bleeding.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Fluticasone Propionate Reduces Oral Prednisone Use While it Improves Asthma Control.

This study examined the effect of fluticasone propionate aerosol on oral prednisone requirements in patients with severe asthma. Ninety-six patients dependent on oral prednisone were treated with placebo or fluticasone propionate aerosol (750 or 1000 &mgr;g twice daily) for 16 weeks. The dosage of oral prednisone was adjusted weekly according to predetermined criteria. Fluticasone propionate 750 and 1000 &mgr;g twice daily resulted in 69% and 88% of patients (low and high doses, respectively) not using any prednisone compared to 3% of placebo-treated patients by the end of the study. In the fluticasone propionate groups, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and peak expiratory flow rates and the number of nighttime awakenings improved at the last evaluable visit. In addition, the number of nighttime awakenings and symptomatic albuterol use declined relative to placebo values (p < 0.05). Fluticasone propionate aerosol was well tolerated. Fluticasone propionate aerosol (750 or 1000 &mgr;g twice daily) effectively and safely allowed most asthmatics who were dependent on oral corticosteriods to reduce or eliminate oral prednisone use while improving pulmonary function.

Journal Article↗

Ocular implications of long-term prednisone therapy in children.

We compared 23 patients (ages 4 to 18 years) who were receiving long-term oral prednisone therapy with 31 normal controls (ages 7 to 16 years). Indications for corticosteroid treatment included renal transplant in 11 patients, nephrotic syndrome in 7, glomerulonephritis in 4, and vasculitis without renal disease in 1. The mean duration of prednisone therapy was 5.0 +/- 3.5 years, and the mean dose at the time of examination was 0.29 +/- 0.18 mg/kg/day. Mean intraocular pressure was 16.0 +/- 3.0 mm Hg (range, 12 to 25 mm Hg) in the prednisone group and 15.4 +/- 2.1 mm Hg (range, 12 to 20 mm Hg) in the control group. The difference between the means was 0.6 mm Hg (P = 0.35). Posterior subcapsular cataracts were present in seven (30%) of the prednisone patients, but in none of the controls (P = .001). None of the cataracts were visually significant. We found no evidence that pediatric patients on long-term, low-dose prednisone have higher intraocular pressures (IOPs) than normal children, although they are more likely to develop posterior subcapsular cataracts.

Adolescent↗

Prednisone treatment in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Long-term benefit.

We report the long-term results of a therapeutic trial of prednisone in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, comparing the age at which 16 treated patients and 38 controls lost the ability to ambulate. Survival curve analysis and group mean comparisons indicate that ambulation was significantly prolonged, by approximately two years, in the prednisone-treated group compared with the control group. The results of this study indicate that prednisone therapy has a long-term beneficial effect in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in addition to the short-term palliation we previously reported. Further studies are needed to establish optimal treatment schedules using prednisone and to develop improved therapeutic agents.

Adolescent↗

Effect of prednisone on growth and bone mineral content in childhood glomerular disease.

Children with acquired glomerular disease were divided into two groups: Group 1 patients received short-term daily or long-term alternate-day prednisone (up to 2.7 mg/kg/48 hr); group 2 patients received no corticosteroids. Height, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone density were evaluated in the two groups and compared to those of 800 sex- and age-matched controls; BMC and bone density were assessed by the photon absorption technique. Significant demineralization was present in 18 of 25 prednisone-treated and none of the 17 nonprednisone-treated patients (P less than .001). Group 1 patients were 5.3 +/- 0.7% shorter than controls, while group 2 patients were only 1.9 +/- .8% shorter (P less than .02). Height velocity was 2.6 +/- 0.8 cm/yr in group 1 and 5.1 +/- 0.8 cm/yr in group 2 patients (P less than .05). When prednisone therapy was discontinued, six patients had an increase in height and BMC toward normal values. This study suggests that BMC and height velocity are correlated. Both appear to be influenced by alternate-day prednisone therapy rather than by glomerular disease per se.

Adolescent↗

Impact of prednisone on TGF-beta1 and collagen in diaphragm muscle from mdx mice.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of prednisone treatment for 8 weeks on the level of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), hydroxyproline (HYP) concentrations, and level of the mature, nonreducible collagen cross-link hydroxylysylpyridinoline (HP) in diaphragm muscle from 12-week-old mdx mice. Diaphragm muscle from untreated mdx mice had a significantly higher level of TGF-beta1, HYP, and HP cross-link compared with normal C57BL/10J (control) mice. Prednisone treatment significantly reduced the level of TGF-beta1 and HYP in diaphragm from mdx mice to values similar to control mice, but resulted in a higher level of the HP cross-link compared with untreated mdx mice. These findings indicate that short-term treatment of mdx mice with prednisone can attenuate the fibrotic response in diaphragm muscle, possibly by mediating the level of TGF-beta. Although prednisone was beneficial in preventing collagen accumulation, it resulted in a higher level of the HP cross-link, presumably by decreasing collagen turnover

Animals↗

Prednisone augmentation in treatment-resistant depression with fatigue and hypocortisolaemia: a case series.

Abnormalities of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have long been implicated in major depression with hypercortisolaemia reported in typical depression and hypocortisolaemia in some studies of atypical depression. We report on the use of prednisone in treatment-resistant depressed patients with reduced plasma cortisol concentrations. Six patients with treatment-resistant major depression were found to complain of severe fatigue, consistent with major depression, atypical subtype, and to demonstrate low plasma cortisol levels. Prednisone 7.5 mg daily was added to the antidepressant regime. Five of six patients demonstrated significant improvement in depression on prednisone augmentation of antidepressant therapy. Although hypercortisolaemia has been implicated in some patients with depression, our findings suggest that hypocortisolaemia may also play a role in some subtypes of this disorder. In treatment-resistant depressed patients with fatigue and hypocortisolaemia, prednisone augmentation may be useful.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗

Eaton-Lambert myasthenic syndrome: long-term treatment of three patients with prednisone.

Three patients with the myasthenic syndrome of Eaton-Lambert (ELS) were treated with prednisone for 6 and 12 months and more than 3 years, respectively. Muscle strength increased considerably in all, reaching a peak after 3 to 4 months, and was accompanied by simultaneous electromyographic improvement. Reduction of prednisone led to deterioration in all 3 patients; strength was regained when the higher dosage of prednisone was resumed. Prednisone is an alternative form of treatment for ELS, although the mechanism for its action is unclear.

Adolescent↗