[A comparative evaluation of the efficacy of peroral and intravenous pulse therapy with methylprednisolone in rheumatic diseases].

Pulse therapy with methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol, Upjohn), 1000 mg daily over three successive days, was administered to patients in two randomized groups of 14 patients in each (23 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 5 with rheumatoid arthritis). In one of the groups the drug was taken per os, the other received it intravenously. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of clinical effectiveness and incidence of side effects However, the time-related course of such indices as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the level of leukocytes, of total protein, urea, the blood antioxidant potential, permeability of erythrocytic membranes and capillary and tissue barrier proteinuria as well as the content of immune complexes in the arterial and venous blood was more striking with per os intake. Of the 14 patients, 11 demonstrated short-continued asymptomatic 35% rise in the activity of alaninaminotransferase.