J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2008 Jan;49(1):14-18. 10.3341/jkos.2008.49.1.14.

Side Effects of Intravenous Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy in Eye Diseases

• Kim JY
• Ahn M

• KMID: 2211177
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/jkos.2008.49.1.14

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the side effects of short-term high-dose methylprednisolone therapy (pulse methylprednisolone therapy), which was used to treat patients with optic neuritis, traumatic optic neuropathy, orbital pseudotumor, and orbital myositis.
METHODS
All 27 patients treated with pulse methylprednisolone therapy from June 2005 to June 2006 were included in this study. Each patient was injected with 1 g per day of methylprednisolone intravenously, administered in 250 mg doses every 6 hours, for 3 days. We measured body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, HbA1c, blood pressure, and intraocular pressure. In addition, we performed slit lamp examination and chest X-ray.
RESULTS
The average age of the 27 patients was 35.8 years, including 16 males and 11 females. Thirteen patients had optic neuritis, 10 patients had traumatic optic neuropathy, 3 patients had orbital pseudotumors, and 1 patient had orbital myositis. Before treatment, the average of body mass index (BMI) was 23.09 (kg/m2), but at 3 months after treatment it was 23.73 (kg/m2). All patients had fasting glucose levels higher than the normal range during the treatment. However, all fasting glucose levels returned to within the normal range at 3 months after treatment, except in 1 patient. In addition, a major complaint among patients was an increase in body weight.
CONCLUSIONS
We performed a close observation of controlled diet and exercise on patients who were treated with pulse methylprednisolone therapy because we knew it would have a hyperglycemic effect. An increase in body weight is the most common complaint of steroid therapy. Even after treatment is completed, it is important to monitor glucose level and weight.

Keyword

High dose pulse methylprednisolone therapy

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Body Mass Index
Body Weight
Diet
Eye
Eye Diseases
Fasting
Female
Glucose
Humans
Intraocular Pressure
Male
Methylprednisolone
Optic Nerve Injuries
Optic Neuritis
Orbit
Orbital Myositis
Orbital Pseudotumor
Organothiophosphorus Compounds
Reference Values
Thorax
Glucose
Methylprednisolone
Organothiophosphorus Compounds

Figure

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  Figure 1. The changes of fasting blood glucose.

Reference

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