Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4
pubmed:dateCreated
1978-6-12
pubmed:abstractText
In spite of the increasing use of single and multiple pharmacologic intravenous pulses of MPS for immunosuppression in various diseases, their immunosuppressive effects have not been documented. We treated two groups of six patients with classic RA unresponsive to conventional therapy with either one or three daily 1 gm intravenous doses of MPS and measured the immune response and clinical activity over 16 weeks. Lymphocytopenia with selective T lymphocyte suppression was noted 2 hr following each infusion, which was maximal at 6 hr with complete recovery 24 hr after each dose beyond which no lymphocytopenia or T lymphocyte depletion was seen. Preservation of skin test positivity to recall antigens such as PPD and histoplasmin, rise in antibody titers to the secondary antigens tetanus and typhoid, and primary antibody response to KLH were found in both groups after treatment. Serum gamma globulin concentrations were unchanged. Five of six patients receiving 3 doses and three of six receiving 1 dose had satisfactory improvement in clinical parameters, with maximal benefit seen within the first 4 days. Six patients still felt better at 4 weeks, and one patient in each group entered a clinical remission greater than 16 weeks. We conclude that higher and repeated doses of MPS caused neither greater lymphocytopenia nor more prolonged suppression of recirculating lymphocytes than the conventional oral doses. The clinical benefits stem from reduction of inflammation, and it is doubtful that pulse therapy by itself induced significant generalized immunosuppression.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Apr
pubmed:issn
0022-2143
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
91
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
625-34
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1978
pubmed:articleTitle
Effect of corticosteroids on the human immune response: comparison of one and three daily 1 gm intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.