Duration Of Steroid Therapy Research Articles

Improving Outcome of Kasai Portoenterostomy with Use of Steroid and Antibiotics – Case Reports

Purpose: Early reports suggest that the use of steroids and antibiotics after Kasai portoenterostomy may improve bile flow and outcomes in infants with biliary atresia. Under the guidance of these reports, we use intravenous antibiotics and high dose tapering steroids in our patients with biliary atresia. Methods: Six infants underwent Kasai portoenterostomy between 2001 and 2005 in our institution. The age range at the time of surgery was 4 to 7 weeks. All patients received ursodeoxycolic acid indefinitely, tapering dose of steroids and intravenous antibiotics for 3 weeks. After 3 weeks the patients either received oral antibiotics or continue intravenous antibiotics depending on their direct bilirubin, GGT and platelet levels. Cholangitis is defined as elevated bilirubin level, GGT or platelet counts as a marker of acute phase reactant. The mean duration of steroid therapy was 15.6 weeks (range 7–35 weeks). The mean duration of intravenous antibiotics was 6.8 weeks (range 3–10 weeks). Most patients had elevated direct bilirubin level after Kasai procedure. Four patients at the end of antibiotic and steroid course had normal bilirubin levels and currently doing well after mean follow-up of 2.9 years ranging 1–5years. Two patients continued to have progressive disease and underwent liver transplantation. One of these two patients had congenital form of biliary atresia with situs inversus and polysplenia. Results: It is our observation that prolonged course of antibiotics and steroid use improves the outcome in 4 out of 6 patients. Congenital form is known to have poor outcome and the use of steroids and antibiotics did not make any change in the progression of disease. In our patients, we used wide range of antibiotics and steroids depending on the patients clinical and laboratory evaluation. Conclusions: More controlled studies are needed to decide the duration and the dosage of antibiotics and steroids and parameters to stop or continue these medications.

Surgery in patients on long-term steroid therapy: A tentative model for risk assessment

Increased morbidity after operation has been associated with long-term steroid therapy. To determine the correlation between steroid therapy and such morbidity, the perioperative course of 55 steroid-treated patients was reviewed: 27 had bronchopulmonary disorders (group P) and 28 had non-pulmonary diseases (group NP). There were six (11 per cent) deaths, of which three were steroid related. Among the 13 non-lethal postoperative complications, eight were considered to be steroid related in group P and one in group NP. The duration of steroid therapy was for a median of 24 months (range 1-408 months) in group P and for a median of 6 months (range 1-240 months) in group NP (P less than 0.01). In contrast, the daily dose of hydrocortisone or equivalent before operation was significantly lower in group P, with a median of 0.51 mg kg-1 day-1 (range 0.20-2.56 mg kg-1 day-1) than in group NP, with a median of 1.20 mg kg-1 day-1 (range 0.23-7.38 mg kg-1 day-1) (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, bronchopulmonary disorders requiring a long duration of steroid therapy are associated with a higher risk of steroid-related complications after surgery. A convenient mathematical model is proposed which may allow a preoperative assessment of surgical risk, using steroid dose and duration of treatment.

Reduced bone mineral density in male Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients in Hong Kong

During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in Hong Kong in 2003, patients were treated with very high doses of corticosteroid and ribarivin. The detrimental effects of such treatment on the bone mineral density (BMD) of SARS patients are unknown. To compare the BMD of SARS patients with normal range data, a cross-sectional survey was conducted. The bone mineral density of 224 patients with SARS, who were treated with an average of 2753 mg (SD = 2152 mg) prednisolone and 29,344 mg (SD = 15,849 mg) of ribarivin was compared to normal data. Six percent of men had a hip BMD Z score of ≤−2 ( P = 0.057 for testing the hypothesis that >2.5% of subjects should have a Z score of ≤−2). Moreover, there was a negative association ( r = −0.25, P = 0.023) between the duration of steroid therapy and BMD in men. We conclude that male SARS patients had lower BMD at the hip than normal controls, and this could be attributed to prolonged steroid therapy.

好酸球性副鼻腔炎に対する経口ステロイド薬の有用性

Special attention has been recently paid to chronic sinusitis with marked eosinophilic infiltration given its resistance to conservative as well as surgical treatment. This pathology is now classified as eosinophilic sinusitis (ES). Several reports suggest that systemic steroid administration is effective and necessary as maintenance therapy after surgery. However, the optimal doses and duration of steroid therapy following surgery remain unknown. The present study was performed to examine the effectiveness of oral steroid therapy for ES after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Two hundred and three patients with chronic sinusitis complicated with nasal polyps who underwent ESS in the ENT clinic of Kagoshima University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2003 were enrolled in the study. Biopsy of nasal polyp was performed prior to ESS, and ES was diagnosed by the histological findings of more than 60 eosinophils/field at the magnification of 200. ES cases were classified into two groups based on clinical records; one group was orally administered with steroid after ESS (SG), the other group did not receive steroid after ESS (NSG). Topical findings and laboratory data such as eosinophils and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) within peripheral blood were compared between the SG and NSG groups. In the results, ES was observed in 30 out of 203 (15%) cases of sinusitis. ES was complicated with asthma in 63%, and with allergic rhinitis in 33%. Recurrence of nasal polyp was statistically less in SG than in NSG. Oral steroid administration was particularly effective in patients with both ES and asthma. Decreased nasal polyp recurrence rates were observed in patients with lower peripheral blood eosinophil counts and lower serum ECP levels. Those findings indicate that oral steroid therapy is effective to reduce recurrence in patients with ES by decreasing the number of activated eosinophils in peripheral blood.

Chronic Steroid and Immunosuppressant Therapy in Children

1. Abraham Gedalia, MD* 2. Avinash K. Shetty, MD† 1. *Professor of Pediatrics and Head, Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center and Children’s Hospital, New Orleans, La 2. †Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the mechanism of action, list indications for therapy, and discuss the adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy in children. 2. Delineate the mechanism of action and adverse effects of other immunosuppressive agents frequently used in children. 3. Discuss the immunization recommendations for children receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Corticosteroids are the most potent, naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents known. Despite more than 50 years of controversy regarding their clinical use, risks, and benefits, corticosteroids still play a significant role in the management of a wide variety of diseases. They have reduced the morbidity and mortality significantly in children afflicted with leukemia, asthma, rheumatic diseases, and other inflammatory disorders. In this article, we review the mechanism of action, clinical indications, and adverse effects of corticosteroids and other commonly used immunosuppressive agents in children. We also review immunization recommendations for children receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Corticosteroids have a diverse role in the human body at the physiologic level. The actions of glucocorticoids include: 1) negative feedback modulation of corticotropin-releasing factor and adrenocorticotropic hormone; 2) regulation of blood glucose and liver glycogen levels; 3) maintenance of water-electrolyte homeostasis; 4) influence on the metabolism of protein, fat, and purine; 5) maintenance of normal cardiovascular, central nervous system (CNS), and renal functions; 6) influence on circadian rhythmicity; 7) maintenance of bone and muscle work capacity; and 8) protection of the body against moderate stress. Glucocorticoids also have pharmacologic properties that are used in the treatment of rheumatic and other inflammatory diseases. Cellular receptors for cortisol are ubiquitous in cell cytoplasm, reflecting the critical role of the hormone in maintaining cell homeostasis. The type 1 glucocorticoid receptor, known as the mineralocorticoid receptor, has high affinity for aldosterone. The type 2 glucocorticoid receptor, known as the glucocorticoid receptor, exhibits strong affinity for dexamethasone. Although …

The Postoperative Course and Management of 106 Hemidecortications

Rationale: The excellent long-term outcome for most children undergoing hemispherectomy is well documented. However, the condition of these children in the immediate postoperative period is poorly described. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the short-term issues surrounding hemispherectomy and their management in a series of patients from our institution. Methods: 106 hemispherectomies were performed at our institution from 1975 to 2001 (102 hemidecortications). Medical records were retrospectively examined for information regarding immediate postoperative problems and care. Results: Three children died in the immediate perioperative period, while 3 others had significant postoperative morbidity. 82% of these children had postoperative fevers (temperature >38.5°C). Of these children, 62% had lumbar punctures. Ten cases had positive CSF growth, of which 6 cases were felt to have actual meningitis. Patients with CSF growth had a significantly longer prior duration of steroid therapy and higher maximum temperature peaks. CSF pleocytosis and an ill clinical appearance neared significance for prediction of CSF growth. Shunting was performed in 19% of all children and was associated with CSF growth. Conclusions: Postoperative fevers are common after hemidecortication, but meningitis is not. Children with CSF growth tended to appear more ill and have higher temperature spikes and CSF pleocytosis. Shunting was related to CSF growth.

Characteristics of prior steroid use predicts duration of steroid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Characteristics of prior steroid use predicts duration of steroid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Characteristics of prior steroid use predicts duration of steroid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Characteristics of prior steroid use predicts duration of steroid therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Clinical significance of histological grading and staging for predicting the effectiveness of steroid therapy in IgA nephropathy

Background. A beneficial effect of steroid therapy for IgA nephropathy (IgAN) has been reported. However, precise histological criteria for steroid therapy have not yet been established. The present study was designed to assess the clinical validity of histological grading and staging for predicting the responsiveness to steroid therapy in IgAN. Methods. We performed a retrospective study of 27 patients with IgAN who underwent steroid therapy. The duration of steroid therapy was 42.9 ± 23.1 months, and the mean follow-up period was 7.5 ± 2.4 years, ranging from 4 to 14 years. Responsiveness to the steroid therapy was evaluated by reduction of urinary protein at 1 year after treatment; more than 50% reduction of initial urinary protein and less than 1.0 g/day. Responsiveness to the therapy was also evaluated by preservation of renal function; i.e., maintenance of serum creatinine level under 2.0 mg/dl during follow-up. The histological grading and staging method (G-S system) proposed by Shigematsu was used to evaluate the histological severity of lesions in renal biopsy specimens. Univariate analyses of clinical and histological parameters, using the logistic regression model or Cox proportional hazards model, were performed to find predictive factors for the effectiveness of steroid therapy. Results. No clinical parameters at the start of treatment predicted the effectiveness of the steroid therapy. However, some histological parameters – crescent formation rate (%), grade of glomerular extracapillary lesions (Gex) and grades of acute and chronic interstitial inflammation (Gint and Sint) – were predictive for the effectiveness of steroid therapy. To predict reduction of proteinuria at 1 year after steroid therapy, the crescent formation rate, Gex, Gint, and Sint were significant (odds ratio; P value): crescent formation rate per 10% increment (2.91; P = 0.019), Gex per 0.1 grade increment (1.56; P = 0.021), Gint per one grade increment (0.20; P = 0.022), and Sint per one grade increment (0.33; P = 0.039). These results indicated that a high crescent formation rate and active extracapillary lesions predicted favorable response, and active and chronic interstitial lesions predicted lower efficacy in proteinuria reduction. To predict deterioration of renal function, Gint and Sint were significant (hazard ratio; P value): Gint per one grade increment (3.30; P = 0.015) and Sint per one grade increment (2.99; P = 0.006), indicating that high degrees of acute and chronic interstitial inflammation predicted the deterioration of renal function. Conclusions. The severity of acute glomerular extracapillary lesions predicts the possibility of reduction in proteinuria after steroid therapy, while the severity of interstitial inflammation suggests a lower efficacy for proteinuria reduction and a high risk of renal dysfunction even after steroid therapy in IgAN.

West syndrome in tuberous sclerosis complex

West syndrome occurs commonly in children with tuberous sclerosis complex and is associated with a grave prognosis for cognitive and seizure outcomes. We sought to determine the epilepsy outcome of children with tuberous sclerosis complex and West syndrome and whether EEG, MRI, or steroid therapy duration were different in those whose epilepsy improved compared with those with intractable seizures. Seventeen patients with tuberous sclerosis complex and West syndrome were identified. For each patient, two sets of clinical evaluations, EEG and MRI data, and treatment information separated by at least 12 months were obtained. The patients were divided into two seizure outcome groups. EEG, MRI, and treatment data were compared between the groups. The intellectual deficiency was either severe (76%) or moderate (24%). Seizure control improved in 10 and worsened in seven, without mortality (follow-up range = 12-216 months). No significant differences in EEG background, MRI findings, or steroid treatment duration were evident between the groups. The difference in EEG-sleep approached statistical significance ( P = 0.06). Our findings did not confirm reports of high mortality and poor epilepsy outcome in intellectually deficient children with West syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. EEG sleep was the best indicator of seizure control and approached statistical significance. The duration of steroid therapy had no influence on seizure control.

75th European Neuromuscular Centre International Workshop: 2nd workshop on the treatment of muscular dystrophy 10-12 December, 1999, Naarden, The Netherlands.

75th European Neuromuscular Centre International Workshop: 2nd workshop on the treatment of muscular dystrophy 10-12 December, 1999, Naarden, The Netherlands.

Corticosteroid requirements in polymyalgia rheumatica.

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a systemic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that affects older individuals. Clinical symptoms respond promptly to corticosteroids, but treatment is often required for several years, frequently resulting in adverse drug effects. Guidelines for the optimal use of corticosteroids that maximize relief of symptoms but minimize adverse effects of the therapy are needed. To determine whether clinical or laboratory parameters in PMR could be identified that allow for stratifying patients into subsets with differences in corticosteroid requirements. We studied 27 patients with PMR treated with a standardized schedule of prednisone. Patients were reevaluated at monthly intervals for pain scores and physician and patient assessments. Plasma interleukin 6 level and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate were measured at each visit. The duration of steroid therapy and the cumulative steroid dose were calculated. Based on the initial response to therapy and the duration of disease, the 27 patients could be subdivided into 3 distinct groups. Eight with low erythrocyte sedimentation rates responded rapidly and required corticosteroids for less than 1 year with rare disease flares on tapering of prednisone. Twelve others responded well initially but did not tolerate reduction to lower doses and had remitting disease of more than 1 year. Seven patients had only a partial response to the initial steroid regimen. After 4 weeks of therapy, the erythrocyte sedimentation rates improved, but levels of interleukin 6 remained elevated. Pretreatment pain scores were also higher in these partial responder patients (P = .05). Polymyalgia rheumatica is a heterogeneous disease with variations in the treatment duration and dose of corticosteroids required for suppression of symptoms. Pretreatment erythrocyte sedimentation rate and nonresponsiveness of interleukin 6 to steroid therapy are helpful in dividing patients into subsets with different treatment requirements.

Increased non-articular tenderness in patients on steroid therapy

Increased non-articular tenderness and tender shins have been suggested to be associated with steroid therapy in patients with lupus. The aim of the present study was to extend this observation in a different disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and to examine the relationship between tenderness, dosage and duration of steroid therapy. Eighty-seven patients with 11313, 23 of them on steroid therapy, were assessed for disease activity and nonarticular tenderness. A count of 18 tender points was conducted by thumb palpation, and tenderness thresholds were assessed by dolorimetry at four shin sites, nine tender point sites and four control point sites. Patients on steroids were significantly more tender than subjects not on steroids: their mean tender point counts were 13.3 and 6.7 ( p<0.001), respectively, and the dolorimetry thresholds at all three sites were significantly lower in the steroid group ( p<0.001). Increased tenderness was also associated with increased steroid dosage. However, tenderness was not related to duration of steroid therapy, to gender, or to previous steroid therapy being discontinued at least a year ago. Disease activity was neither related to tenderness nor to steroid treatment. The demonstration of increased tenderness in IBD patients on steroid therapy, in addition to earlier observations in lupus, may suggest that such a relationship is not disease specific. The recognition of this association is important to physicians treating patients with steroids and will prevent misinterpretations of complaints about tender shins and diffuse tenderness as part of the disease entity itself.

Long-term outcome in children and adults with classic focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

A retrospective study was conducted in 93 patients (55 adults and 38 children) with classical focal segmental glomerulosclerosis drawn from the Toronto Glomerulonephritis Registry. The average follow-up period was 11 years, with a cumulative experience of 1,053 patient-years. Both adults and children were similar in profile at the time of entry, except that the nephrotic syndrome was more common in children (55% of adults v 76% of children; P < 0.05). During evolution of the disease, however, the percentages became very similar with 82% of adults and 89% of children developing nephrotic-range proteinuria. At the last observation point, the outcome of patients (adults v children) was complete remission, 22% versus 42%; end-stage renal disease, 42% versus 34%; chronic renal insufficiency, 13% versus 11%; and persisting abnormality, 24% versus 13%. Although there were more children than adults in complete remission, the rate was equal in the treated adults compared with the treated children (44% v 47%). Although optimal duration of steroid therapy cannot be determined by this review, treatment beyond 6 months does not appear to be beneficial. The best guide to prognosis remains complete remission, since long-term renal survival in both age groups with this event was 100%. Those without a complete remission generally progress, although even at 10 years the survival rate is 62% in adults and 58% in children. (Am J Kidney Dis 1998 Jul;32(1):72-9)

Crohn's Disease in Children 10 Years Old and Younger

SummaryIn order to examine the presentation and course of Crohn's disease (CD) versus those of ulcerative colitis (UC) in children ±10 years of age, a retrospective review of children ±10 years old with inflammatory bowel disease singled out 40 patients and compared their findings with those of 38 children with UC. The mean age at onset was 7.5 years for CD, as compared with 5.9 years for UC. A family history of inflammatory bowel disease was present in 13 patients (32%). Abdominal pain (97%), diarrhea (78%), and weight loss (88%) were the major initial complaints, with growth retardation present in 12 (30%) children. At onset, four children had diffuse small‐bowel disease, nine had terminal ileal disease, 15 had ileocolitis, and 12 had colitis; at the end of the study two had diffuse small‐bowel disease, four had terminal ileal disease, 25 had ileocolitis, and seven had colitis. Extraintestinal manifestations increased with duration of disease. Although the number of recurrences did not differ greatly between groups, those with ileocolitis and colitis needed longer steroid therapy and more days in hospital than did those with only small‐bowel disease. Operation was required in 42.5% of children with CD, as compared with 5% of those with UC, with six CD children (35%) requiring later reoperation for recurrent disease or fistula and abscess. Two children died from causes unrelated to their disease (gastric volvulus, carcinoma of the breast). The number of operations, duration of steroid therapy in the course of a year, and days in hospital for children with CD exceeded those for a similar group of children with UC. The quality of life noted at the end of the study period was considered only fair in the majority (70%) of CD patients, in contrast to those with UC, 75% of whom considered life good after 2 years of illness.

Surgery in Patients on Long-term Steroid Therapy

Increased morbidity after operation has been associated with long-term steroid therapy. To determine the correlation between steroid therapy and such morbidity, the perioperative course of 55 steroid-treated patients was reviewed: 27 had bronchopulmonary disorders (group P) and 28 had non-pulmonary diseases (group NP). There were six (11 per cent) deaths, of which three were steroid related. Among the 13 non-lethal postoperative complications, eight were considered to be steroid related in group P and one in group NP. The duration of steroid therapy was for a median of 24 months (range 1-408 months) in group P and for a median of 6 months (range 1-240 months) in group NP (P less than 0.01). In contrast, the daily dose of hydrocortisone or equivalent before operation was significantly lower in group P, with a median of 0.51 mg kg-1 day-1 (range 0.20-2.56 mg kg-1 day-1) than in group NP, with a median of 1.20 mg kg-1 day-1 (range 0.23-7.38 mg kg-1 day-1) (P less than 0.01). In conclusion, bronchopulmonary disorders requiring a long duration of steroid therapy are associated with a higher risk of steroid-related complications after surgery. A convenient mathematical model is proposed which may allow a preoperative assessment of surgical risk, using steroid dose and duration of treatment.

Inspiratory Muscle Strength and Respiratory Drive in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

In 15 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 12 age- and sex-matched normal subjects, we evaluated inspiratory muscle strength and respiratory control system. Inspiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). Respiratory drive was assessed by evaluating surface electromyographic activity of the diaphragm (EMGd) during both room-air breathing and hypercapnic rebreathing. Compared to the predicted value (mean +/- 1.65 SD), MIP was significantly reduced in nine patients (60%). All told, we noticed a significant inverse relationship in the patients between MIP and duration of steroid therapy (p less than 0.01). During room-air breathing, both EMGd and mouth occlusion pressure (P0.1), expressed both in actual values and as percentage of MIP, were significantly greater in patients than in the normal control group (p less than 0.001 for both). Both EMGd and P0.1 (%MIP) response slopes to CO2 were significantly greater in patients than in the normal control group (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.001, respectively) and significantly related to the functional stage of disease. During quiet breathing and for a PETCO2 of 60 mm Hg, both EMGd (p less than 0.01 and p less than 0.05, respectively) and P0.1 (%MIP) (p less than 0.01 and p = 0.001, respectively) were inversely related to MIP. These results indicate that RA patients may exhibit inspiratory muscle weakness and increased respiratory drive. Steroid myopathy and rheumatoid myositis could explain the reduction in MIP, whereas neural afferents arising from respiratory muscle, lung, or joint receptors could be involved in the observed increase in neural drive.

Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract in patients receiving steroids for neurologic disease.

Between 1980 and 1984, of 107 patients receiving 16 mg/d of dexamethasone for spinal cord compression, three (2.8%) developed gastrointestinal (GI) perforation and two (1.9%) GI bleeding; of 226 being tapered from 100 mg/d of dexamethasone, perforation occurred in six (2.7%) and GI bleeding in eight (3.5%). Of 125 patients with GI perforations treated between 1979 and 1986, 41 (33%) were on steroids, 24 for neurologic disease. Median duration of steroid therapy was 24 days; 20 (91%) of the neurologic patients perforated within 30 days. The steroid group had more free peritoneal involvement (p less than 0.00001), but fewer signs and symptoms of peritonitis (p less than 0.000001) than the nonsteroid group. Seventeen patients were receiving steroids for cord compression; they had significantly more rectosigmoid perforations (p less than 0.014) and associated constipation (p less than 0.000001) than the 108 remaining patients. GI perforation is a less well-recognized complication of steroid therapy in neurologic patients than is GI bleeding though it occurs as frequently, is more difficult to diagnose, and far more serious. In steroid-treated patients, prevention of constipation might avert this serious complication, while early diagnosis will improve the outcome.

Corticosteroid toxicity in neuro-oncology patients.

Hospital charts from 59 patients with intracranial malignancy or epidural spinal cord compression were reviewed to establish the frequency of clinically important corticosteroid toxicities and to determine treatment or patient characteristics which were predictive for toxicity. Thirty patients (51%) developed at least one steroid toxicity and eleven (19%) required hospital admission for diagnosis and/or management of steroid-related complications. In this retrospective analysis the duration of steroid therapy and the total administered dose predicted for toxicity. Patients with toxicity also had a significant fall in the serum albumin level. Important corticosteroid toxicity occurs frequently in neuro-oncology patients. Further research should be directed at developing non-toxic alternatives to corticosteroids.

Corticosteroid therapy associated with ischemic necrosis of bone in systemic lupus erythematosus

In this prospective study, 28 (52 percent) of 54 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had ischemic necrosis of bone in 93 sites. All but two of the patients had multiple sites of involvement, with hips, knees, and shoulders affected in decreasing order of frequency. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory features were comparable in patients with and without ischemic necrosis of bone except for cushingoid changes in 24 (86 percent) of the 28 patients with ischemic necrosis of bone versus four (15 percent) of the 26 patients without ischemic necrosis of bone (p <0.0001). The duration of steroid therapy, total cumulative steroid dose, and the mean daily prednisone dose for the first one, three, six, and 12 months of therapy were not significantly different between the two groups. Mean daily prednisone dose for the highest single month as well as the highest consecutive three, six, and 12 months of therapy was significantly higher in patients with ischemic necrosis of bone. The mean daily dose of prednisone for the highest month of therapy was greater than 40 mg per day in 93 percent and greater than 20 mg per day in all patients with ischemic necrosis of bone. In patients with ischemic necrosis of bone, there was a statistically significant correlation between higher mean prednisone dose at all time intervals and increased number of bony sites involved. A lower mean dose of prednisone was required to produce ischemic necrosis of bone in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon.