PULSED HIGH-DOSE DEXAMETHASONE TREATMENT IN CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY - A PILOT-STUDY

Six cycles of dexamethasone (40 mg per day for four sequential days) e very 28 days induced remissions in 10 patients with idiopathic thrombo cytopenic purpura (ITP). Whether the same results could be achieved in 10 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (C IDP) was investigated by comparing the Rivermead mobility index (RMI) before and after six cycles of treatment. Three patients discontinued treatment: one because of severe nausea and vomiting and two because o f neurological deterioration. All seven patients who completed treatme nt improved on the RMI. One of these patients had a relapse within two months after the last cycle and six patients were in remission six mo nths after the last dexamethasone cycle. Pulsed high dose dexamethason e induced remissions ranged from at least 15 to 23 months. This treatm ent needs to be tested against standard treatment in a randomised stud y.