OBJECTIVE To analyse 15 cases of invasive fungal infection and mortality parameters in the largest series in the last 35 yrs of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at a single medical centre. METHODS Fifteen patients with SLE and invasive fungal infections were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical and laboratory data, fungal species and infected sites, corticosteroid and immunosupp...

BACKGROUND Leprosy Type 1 reactions are a major cause of nerve damage and the preventable disability that results. Type 1 reactions are treated with oral corticosteroids and there are few data to support the optimal dose and duration of treatment. Type 1 reactions have a Th1 immune profile: cells in cutaneous and neural lesions expressing interferon-γ and interleukin-12. Methylprednisolone has ...

BACKGROUND Guidelines state that oral and inhaled corticosteroids are the cornerstone of asthma treatment. The effect of both types of treatment can be assessed by measuring lung and systemic parameters. Treatment for two weeks with either oral prednisolone (30 mg/day), high dose fluticasone propionate (2000 microg/day, FP2000), or lower dose FP (500 microg/day, FP500), both given by a dry powd...

We report a patient with a systemic vasculitis and heart involvement with complete atrio-ventricular block. After pacemaker implantation, the stimulation threshold significantly increased resulting in exit block. Two adjunctive ventricular leads were implanted with temporary threshold improvement. Oral glucocorticoids decreased the stimulation threshold with a transient, dose-dependent efficacy...

The etiology of vitamin B(6) depletion in inflammation remains unknown. Hepatic vitamin B(6) decreased in adrenalectomized rats, and such reductions were restored by an acute muscle injection of a very high dose of glucocorticoids. We tested the hypothesis that long-term prednisolone treatment for treating inflammation restores vitamin B(6) status by induction of tissue B6 metabolic enzymes. Tw...

Objectives: To assess the cumulative response of very high dose steroids and sequentially added Vigabatrin in patients of infantile West Syndrome. Methods: This was an observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital from August-2014 to August2015. Children aged 2-23 months presenting with infantile spasms with hypsarrhythmia on EEG were enrolled. The study participants were started on...

Synthetic glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs but show dose-dependent metabolic side effects such as the development of insulin resistance and obesity. The precise mechanisms involved in these glucocorticoid-induced side effects, and especially the participation of adipose tissue in this are not completely understood. We used a combination of transcriptomics, antibody arrays and ...