High dose intravenous methylprednisolone in the treatment of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

The case of a 72-year-old woman with probable severe acute respiratory syndrome is reported. While on treatment with ribavirin and antibiotics (for community-acquired pneumonia), the patient continued to have progressive clinical deterioration and chest radiographic evidence of respiratory deterioration. Pulse dose intravenous corticosteroids were used in an unsuccessful attempt to treat the inflammatory component of this respiratory illness.