Efficacy and safety of i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy for vitiligo: A retrospective study of 58 therapy experiences for 33 vitiligo patients

Abstract

Systemic corticosteroid is indicated for vitiligo, especially for generalized and progressive vitiligo. However, no consensus exists yet for the dosages and modalities of systemic corticosteroid treatments for vitiligo. The purpose of this study is to validate the efficacy and safety of i.v. methylprednisolone pulse therapy (IVMP) for patients with progressive generalized vitiligo. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of vitiligo patients treated in our institute for 10 years between January 2010 and December 2019. Among 525 vitiligo patients treated in 10 years, 33 vitiligo patients (aged, 8–78 years; 18 female and 15 males) received IVMP, a single course of daily 500 mg methylprednisolone application (8 mg/kg/day for children) for 3 consecutive days. We observed that 14 of 25 (56%) achieved stable condition without lesion progression, and 12 of 19 (63%) had more than 25% repigmentation at 6 months after IVMP. A group of Vitiligo Area Scoring Index over 10 included more patients with Vitiligo Disease Activity Score of +3 and +4 disease progression at 6 months after the IVMP. We did not observe any severe adverse events relating to the IVMP procedures. In conclusion, IVMP is a safe and effective treatment for progressive generalized vitiligo.

Characterization of rosacea patients in Tohoku area of Japan: Retrospective study of 340 rosacea cases

“…The study was approved by the ethics committee of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of rosacea patients treated between January 2010 and December 2020 in the Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan, with similar procedures described in the previous reports 11–14 . We identified 431 cases diagnosed as rosacea, rosacea‐like dermatitis, or perioral dermatitis.…”

A retrospective study evaluating the outcomes of high‐dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy for 483 patients with moderate‐to‐severe alopecia areata

“…We reviewed IVMP therapy for 636 patients with AA who showed positive hair pull tests and had an area of hair loss ≥ 25% on the scalp. For adults aged > 18 years, 500 mg of methylprednisolone was given daily for three consecutive days (3‐day IVMP) 1 . For children and adolescent patients, 10 mg kg −1 (up to maximum of 500 mg) of methylprednisolone was given daily for three consecutive days.…”

“…Acknowledgments: We are grateful to the women who participated in the Norwegian Women and Cancer study. 1,4 E. Weiderpass iD 7 and M.B. Veierød iD 8 Acknowledgments: the authors would like to thank Yumiko Ito and Junko Endo for their technical assistance, and Momo Miura, Yuko Yanagawa-Ohisa and Yuko Owari for their secretarial support.…”

“…For adults aged > 18 years, 500 mg of methylprednisolone was given daily for three consecutive days (3-day IVMP). 1 For children and adolescent patients, 10 mg kg À1 (up to maximum of 500 mg) of methylprednisolone was given daily for three consecutive days. We did not prescribe IVMP for two patients who showed positive prick tests for methylprednisolone.…”

“…M. Wada-Irimada iD , 1 M. Mizuashi iD , 1 T. Takahashi iD , 1 G. Tojo, 1,2 K. Onami, 1 K. Shido iD , 1 E. Otake, 1 S. Yusa, 1 K. Tanita, 1 E. Yamazaki, 1 S. Aiba 1 and K. Yamasaki iD 1 1 Department of Dermatology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan and 2 Dermatology, South Miyagi Medical Center, Shibata, Miyagi, 989-1253, Japan Correspondence: Kenshi Yamasaki. Email: kyamasaki@med.tohoku.ac.jp…”