Oral dexamethasone pulse therapy versus daily prednisolone in sub-acute onset myositis, a randomised clinical trial

Neuromuscul Disord. 2010 Jun;20(6):382-9. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2010.03.011. Epub 2010 Apr 25.

Abstract

To determine if high-dose pulsed dexamethasone is more effective and safer than daily high-dose prednisolone in treatment-naive adult patients with inflammatory myopathies (sporadic inclusion body myositis excluded) we performed a multicenter, double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial with 18 months follow-up. Sixty-two patients were randomised into 28-day cycles of oral high-dose dexamethasone or daily high-dose prednisolone. Primary outcome measures included (1) seven point composite score of six clinically relevant outcomes and (2) (time-to) remission and (time-to) relapse. No difference between both treatment groups on the composite score was found. Side-effects occurred significantly less frequently in the dexamethasone group. Median time to relapse was 60 (2.9) weeks in the prednisolone and 44 (4.7) weeks in the dexamethasone group (log-rank test p=0.03). In conclusion, pulsed high-dose oral dexamethasone is not superior to daily prednisolone as first-line treatment of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies, but is a good alternative by causing substantially fewer side-effects.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / adverse effects
  • Dexamethasone / therapeutic use*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myositis / drug therapy*
  • Myositis, Inclusion Body / drug therapy
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Prednisolone / adverse effects
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sample Size
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Dexamethasone
  • Prednisolone