Abstract
Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of adverse reactions associated with high dose intermittent intravenous corticosteroids (IVCS) in children with rheumatic disease. Methods: Prospective documentation of adverse reactions associated with IVCS given to 213 pediatric rheumatology patients over a 4 year period. Results. Forty-six of the 213 children (22%) reported an adverse reaction. The 46 patients received 2622 doses of IVCS. Twenty-one patients (10% of all patients studied) had behavioral changes, including altered mood (14), hyperactivity (4), psychosis (2), disorientation (1), and sleep disturbances (3). Nonbehavioral adverse reactions included headache (5.2%), abdominal complaints (4.7%), pruritus (4.2%), vomiting (3.8%), hives (2.3%), hypertension (2.3%), bone pain (1.5%), dizziness (1.5%), fatigue (1%), lethargy (1%), hypotension (1%), tachycardia (1%), hyperglycemia (1%), fracture (1%), tremor (0.5%), anaphylaxis (0.5%), ulcer (0.5%), and 'gray appearance'(0.5%). Using chi-squared analysis, there were no statistical differences in ethnicity (p = 0.54) or diagnosis (p = 0.46) between patient groups, with or without adverse reactions. There was a significant statistical association between history of drug induced cutaneous reaction and adverse reactions to IVCS (p < 0.01). Conclusion. IVCS are associated with a spectrum of adverse reactions in children with rheumatic disease, of which volatile behavior is the most frequent. Children with a history of drug induced cutaneous reaction are more likely to have an adverse reaction to IVCS.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1995-2002 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Rheumatology |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | 10 |
State | Published - Oct 1 1998 |
Keywords
- Adverse reaction
- Corticosteroid
- Intravenous
- Pediatric
- Pulse
- Rheumatic disease
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rheumatology
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology