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Methylprednisolone shows efficacy for patients with active Graves' orbitopathy
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Methylprednisolone may be effective for treating patients with active moderately severe Graves' orbitopathy, according to a study by researchers in The Netherlands.
"In spite of the small number of patients, a significant difference in outcome was observed between [methylprednisolone and placebo] -treated patients," the authors said.
Rob J. van Geest and colleagues evaluated efficacy results after administering either methylprednisolone or placebo to 15 previously untreated patients with active moderately severe Graves' orbitopathy. Specifically, six patients received a 500-mg intravenous dose of methylprednisolone and nine patients received intravenous placebo for 3 consecutive days in four cycles at 4 weekly intervals.
The researchers reported successful qualitative treatment outcomes for five of six patients (83%) who had received methylprednisolone and one of nine patients (11%) who had received placebo (P = .005).
"The treatment was well tolerated," the authors said.
The study is published in the February issue of European Journal of Endocrinology.