Effects of glucocorticoids on experimental allergic neuritis.

Corticosteroids were administered to rats and guinea pigs with experimental allergic neuritis, from the time of inoculation with antigen or from the onset of signs of disease. No statistically significant effects were observed in guinea pigs. In rats, to which large doses of corticosteroids were administered, disease severity was slightly but significantly reduced in both groups and recovery was more rapid in the animals treated from the time of induction of disease. These results were comparable with those obtained in trials of corticosteroids in acute inflammatory polyneuropathy in man, which have also not demonstrated any striking effects.