C. Brignola et al., STEROID TREATMENT IN ACTIVE CROHNS-DISEASE - A COMPARISON BETWEEN 2 REGIMENS OF DIFFERENT DURATION, Alimentary pharmacology & therapeutics, 8(4), 1994, pp. 465-468
Background: Steroids are highly effective in active Crohn's disease: c
linical relapse following steroid withdrawal, however, is frequent. We
used two steroid regimens of different duration in order to compare t
heir efficacy in inducing and maintaining clinical remission. Methods:
Seventy patients with active Crohn's disease were treated with methyl
prednisolone 40 mg/day i.m. for 3 weeks and then with two different re
gimens of tapering dosage: one for a further 4 weeks and another for a
further 12 weeks. Results: Steroid therapy induced remission within 3
weeks in 91% of the whole group of patients; at the end of each proto
col remission rates were 85% of patients in the group treated for the
shorter period and 87% of those treated for the longer period (differe
nce 2%, CI = - 14 to 18, P = NS); remission rates within 6 months afte
r stopping steroids were 53% and 37% respectively (difference 16%, CI
= - 9 to 41, P = NS). Conclusions: No significant differences were fou
nd between the two regimens. Multiple courses of steroid treatment in
the previous 3 years and a short time interval following previous ster
oid treatment seem to be risk factors for relapse.