OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of treatment with belimumab on corticosteroid dose in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) over 52 weeks in 2 randomized, controlled trials. METHODS Data on patients who were taking corticosteroids at baseline in the Study of Belimumab in Subjects with SLE trials were pooled post hoc to compare patients who received belimumab 10 mg/kg plus standard...

Analysis of the response to corticosteroid therapy in a personal series of 8 consecutive cases of dermatomyositis in childhood shows that there are advantages in a moderate dosage, short-term treatment schedule, with gradual tapering of the dosage as soon as there is clinical improvement without waiting for full remission, and in trying to stop steroid therapy within six months rather than foll...

BACKGROUND There is controversy about the development of bronchodilator subsensitivity after regular administration of long-acting beta(2)-agonists. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the study was to evaluate whether regular treatment with formoterol affects the bronchodilator response to repeated puffs of albuterol, and also to assess the effects of acute administration of a bolus dose of IV or inha...

BACKGROUND Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a rare, potentially fatal autoimmune mucocutaneous blistering disease. The prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids, though clinically effective in high doses, can result in multiple debilitating adverse effects. Immunosuppressive agents, used as adjuvants and as corticosteroid-sparing agents, are not effective in all patients and are contraindicated in so...

Plasma salicylate concentration was monitored in 42 children on long-term salicylate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. A given dose of salicylate per kg resulted in large variations in plasma levels, both between individuals and for a single individual at different times. The factors responsible for such variations were studied; in 6 cases urinary metabolites of salicylate were analysed. The re...

There is no consensus of treatments for acute acalculous cholecystitis with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study was aimed to investigate the effect of the corticosteroid for these patients.A series of patients who were diagnosed as acute acalculous cholecystitis with SLE in the period from January 2012 to December 2016 at our hospital were included. They accepted 2 different conservat...

Azathioprine (Imuran) was administered to seven patients with ulcerative colitis suffering from a relapse which could not be controlled by adrenocortical steroids. In four patients remission started one to two weeks after initiation of antimetabolite therapy. Corticosteroid administration was continued concurrently with azathioprine, but the dosage could be reduced and in one case they were wit...