Effects of nandrolone decanoate in NZB/W mice treated concomitantly with maintenance doses of dexamethasone sodium phosphate.

Treatment of female or castrated male NZB/W mice with nandrolone decanoate (80 mg/kg s.c.), once every three weeks, delays the onset of murine lupus and associated symptoms, even when treatment was started at the 17th week of age. Continuous low dose glucocorticoid therapy did not affect the therapeutic effects of the nandrolone decanoate injections. These results indicate that SLE patients receiving maintenance low dose glucocorticoid therapy may also benefit from treatment with nandrolone-decanoate.