ORAL PREDNISONE THERAPY IN EXPERIMENTAL RHINOVIRUS INFECTIONS

This study was designed to test the effects of oral steroid therapy on the kinin levels and symptoms of experimental rhinoviral colds. Forty -seven men were randomized to receive prednisone (20 mg) or placebo. T herapy was administered three times a day for 5 days, after one dose w as given 11 hours before inoculation with rhinovirus. Viral titers, sy mptom scores, and kinin and albumin concentrations in nasal washes wer e monitored. The mean kinin levels were lower in the steroid group (28 7 vs 449 pg/ml, p = 0.005) with significant differences in kinin level s on days 3 and 4 (p < 0.01). No significant difference in total sympt om scores was seen between the two groups. Except for increased sneezi ng (p < 0.01) and mucus weights (p < 0.05) on day 1 in patients treate d with prednisone, there were no significant differences in individual symptom scores. Headache tended to be less prominent in steroid recip ients. Mean viral titers were higher in the steroid group (1.13 vs 0.7 9, p = 0.03) with significant differences in the daily viral titers on days 3 (p < 0.05) and 4 (p < 0.01). Steroids reduced kinin levels in rhinoviral infections, but that reduction was not associated with a si gnificant reduction in symptoms. This study also provides evidence for the enhancement of viral growth in steroid recipients.