European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Background: To compare efficacy of high versus low–medium prednisone doses for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
Materials and Methods: Seventy- four adults patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus of either gender was divided equally (37) into 2 groups. Group I received prednisone doses ≤30 mg/day and group II received prednisone doses >30 mg/day. Activity was measured using the SLEDAI-2K score. Damage accrual was calculated using the SLICC damage index (SDI).

Results: Group I comprised of 20 male and 17 female and group B had 18 male and 19 female (Table I). Age at diagnosis was 36.7 years in group I and 34.6 years in group II, Anti-Ro was seen in 34% and 38%, Anti-La in 24% and 18%, Anti-SM in 18% and 20%, Anti-RNP in 9% and 14%, Anti-DNA in 65% and 50% and Antiphospholipid antibodies in 24% and 32%. SLEDAI at baseline was 9.84 and 9.81 and SDI at baselined was 0.14 and 0.14 in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Main organ systems affected were skin in 4 and 3, CNS in 2 and 1, vasculitis in 1 and 2, articular in 17 and 22, serosal in 5 and 6, kidney in 3 and 4 and haematological in 2 and 4 in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). The mean maximum prednisone 1st year was 14.2 and 64.1, average prednisone 1st year was 5 and 24, average prednisone years 1–2 was 3.6 and 18.5, average prednisone years 1–3 was 3.2 and 15.8, average prednisone years 1–4 was 2.7 and 15.1, pulse methyl-prednisolone during the 1st year was 12 and 3, hydroxychloroquine during the 1st year was seen in 37 and 9 and immunosuppressive drugs during the 1st year was seen in 9 and 8 in group I and II respectively. The difference was significant (P< 0.05).