[Use of intravenous megadoses of methylprednisolone for treatment of dermatomyositis in children]

Abstract

Intravenous treatment with megadoses of glycocorticoids was used in 8 children with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Methylprednisolone (Mp-Solu-Medrol) was administered in a dose of 20 mg/kg, not exceeding 1 g, in the form of drop infusion over a period of 1.5-2.5 hours. An initial 3-6 consecutive day course of intravenous pulse was followed by further treatment twice a week for 2 to 5 weeks. A good response this therapy was observed in all of the children. However the best results were obtained in those patients who had not been treated previously and in when MP pulses were given soon from the onset of the disease (group I). MP pulse therapy administered in patients nonresponsive to conventional treatment (group II) did not prevent further relapses. When the treatment was introduced at the later, exacerbated stage of the disease, none of the patients entered into remission (group III). No side effects were observed during the pulse therapy. This study confirms the efficacy of MP pulse therapy in JDM, specially in the early severe stage of the disease.