OBJECTIVE: To assess whether methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy is efficacious in the treatment of moderately severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO). DESIGN: Prospective, placebo (PL)-controlled, double-blind, randomized study. METHODS:Fifteen previously untreated patients with active, moderately severe GO participated in the study; 6 patients receivedMP and 9 patients a PL. Moderately severe disease was defined using the NOSPECS classification of clinical signs of GO . Activity was measured with the clinical activity score (CAS). A dose of 500 mg MP or only solvent was administered intravenously, over three consecutive days, in four cycles at 4 weekly intervals (6 g of MP in total). Qualitatively, a successful treatment outcome was defined as an improvement in one major and/or two minor criteria in the worst eye at week 48. The major criteria were: improvement in diplopia grade; improvement in eye movement; a decrease in CAS of three points. The minor criteria were: decrease of eyelid retraction; decrease of proptosis; improvement in grade of soft tissue swelling; a decrease in CAS of two points. RESULTS: The qualitative treatment outcome was successful at the end of the trial in five out of six (83%) patients receiving MP and in one out of nine (11%) patients given the PL (relative risk=7.5; (95% confidence interval 1.1-49.3), P=0.005). The treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the small number of patients, a significant difference in outcome was observed between MP- and PL-treated patients. We conclude that MP pulse therapy appears to be an effective treatment for active, moderately severe GO.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether methylprednisolone (MP) pulse therapy is efficacious in the treatment of moderately severe Graves' orbitopathy (GO). DESIGN: Prospective, placebo (PL)-controlled, double-blind, randomized study. METHODS: Fifteen previously untreated patients with active, moderately severe GO participated in the study; 6 patients received MP and 9 patients a PL. Moderately severe disease was defined using the NOSPECS classification of clinical signs of GO . Activity was measured with the clinical activity score (CAS). A dose of 500 mg MP or only solvent was administered intravenously, over three consecutive days, in four cycles at 4 weekly intervals (6 g of MP in total). Qualitatively, a successful treatment outcome was defined as an improvement in one major and/or two minor criteria in the worst eye at week 48. The major criteria were: improvement in diplopia grade; improvement in eye movement; a decrease in CAS of three points. The minor criteria were: decrease of eyelid retraction; decrease of proptosis; improvement in grade of soft tissue swelling; a decrease in CAS of two points. RESULTS: The qualitative treatment outcome was successful at the end of the trial in five out of six (83%) patients receiving MP and in one out of nine (11%) patients given the PL (relative risk=7.5; (95% confidence interval 1.1-49.3), P=0.005). The treatment was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the small number of patients, a significant difference in outcome was observed between MP- and PL-treated patients. We conclude that MP pulse therapy appears to be an effective treatment for active, moderately severe GO.
Authors: Marius N Stan; James A Garrity; Barbara G Carranza Leon; Thapa Prabin; Elizabeth A Bradley; Rebecca S Bahn Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2014-10-24 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Y Kaichi; K Tanitame; H Itakura; H Ohno; M Yoneda; Y Takahashi; Y Akiyama; K Awai Journal: AJNR Am J Neuroradiol Date: 2016-06-30 Impact factor: 3.825