Does Low-Dose Intravenous Methylprednisolone Pulse Therapy Produce Unacceptable Adverse Effects in Children?

Background: Intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy has been used since the late 1960s for acute transplant rejection or severe renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus and primary glomerulonephritis. However, reports of serious adverse effects such as life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death raise questions about its safety. Objective: To investigate the incidence of significant adverse effects associated with low-dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy (LDMPT) in pediatric patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed adverse effects during and after LDMPT in 68 patients (median age: 11.4 years; 43% male) with various glomerular diseases who were admitted to Saitama Children’s Medical Center between April 2007 and December 2010. LDMPT consisted of pulse methylprednisolone (15 20 mg/kg; maximum 600 mg/d) for 3 consecutive days weekly for 2 3 weeks. Results: Although adverse effects occurred in 54 of 68 patients (79%), most were mild and transient. Transient glycosuria was noted in 46 patients (68%), hypertension in 6 (9%), elevated intraocular pressure in 6 (9%), hypokalemia in 5 (7%), and liver damage in 2 (3%). No late-onset adverse effects such as osteoporotic fractures, steroid diabetes mellitus, or short stature were observed. Conclusion: LDMPT appears to be relatively safe and well tolerated in children with various glomerular diseases.