Methylprednisolone pulse therapy for nonrenal lupus erythematosus.

High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy has previously been shown to be efficacious in the treatment of renal lupus erythematosus. The present report presents 2 patients with life-threatening, nonrenal lupus erythematosus. One patient had coma and seizures, while the other had sever thrombocytopenia and anaemia. Both had failed to respond to oral corticosteroid therapy in high doses but had dramatic clinical responses with intravenous methylprednisolone given in 'pulses.' Possible mechanisms of clinical improvement are discussed.