| Oral dexamethasone pulse treatment for vitiligo. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 11312430 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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BACKGROUND: Oral corticosteroid pulse therapy has provided inconsistent results in the treatment of Indian patients with vitiligo. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of oral dexamethasone pulse therapy in a cohort of Austrian patients with vitiligo. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with vitiligo were included in the study. Of these, 25 had progressive and 4 had stable disease. The patients were given weekly pulses of 10 mg dexamethasone each on 2 consecutive days followed by 5 days off treatment for a maximum period of 24 weeks. Clinical response and side effects were evaluated in monthly intervals. Plasma cortisol and corticotropin levels were monitored before and up to 6 days after the dexamethasone pulse in the first and fourth week of treatment in 14 patients. RESULTS: After a mean treatment period of 18.2 +/- 5.2 weeks, the disease activity was arrested in 22 of 25 patients (88%) who had active vitiligo before the study. Marked repigmentation occurred in 2 patients (6.9%) and moderate or slight repigmentation in 3 patients (10.3%) each. No response was noted in 21 patients (72.4%). Side effects were recorded in 20 patients (69%) and included weight gain, insomnia, acne, agitation, menstrual disturbance, and hypertrichosis. Plasma cortisol and corticotropin values were markedly decreased 24 hours after the second dexamethasone dose, yet returned to baseline values within the off treatment period before the next dexamethasone pulse. CONCLUSION: Our data show that oral dexamethasone pulse treatment is effective in arresting progression of vitiligo yet fails to induce satisfactory repigmentation in the great majority of our patient cohort. Mild to moderate side effects are common with this treatment modality; however, sustained suppression of endogenous cortisol production does not occur with the pulse regimen. |
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Authors:
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S Radakovic-Fijan; A M Fürnsinn-Friedl; H Hönigsmann; A Tanew |
Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Volume: 44 ISSN: 0190-9622 ISO Abbreviation: J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. Publication Date: 2001 May |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2001-04-20 Completed Date: 2001-05-24 Revised Date: 2006-11-15 |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 7907132 Medline TA: J Am Acad Dermatol Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 814-7 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Divisions of Special and Environmental Dermatology and General Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria. s.radakovic@akh-wien.ac.at |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Administration, Oral Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood Adult Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage, therapeutic use* Cohort Studies Dexamethasone / administration & dosage, therapeutic use* Female Humans Hydrocortisone / blood Male Middle Aged Pulse Therapy, Drug Treatment Outcome Vitiligo / drug therapy* |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Anti-Inflammatory Agents; 50-02-2/Dexamethasone; 50-23-7/Hydrocortisone; 9002-60-2/Adrenocorticotropic Hormone |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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