Observations on the Use of Prednisone in Patients With Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Diffuse Scleroderma)

Excerpt Both cortisone and corticotropin have been reported as capable of inducing favorable changes in the cutaneous and visceral symptoms of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. 1-6 While some authors are of the opinion that steroid therapy has arrested progress of the disease, 5 others feel that there is no fundamental alteration in the course of the illness, and most note quick return to pretreatment status when corticotropin or cortisone is discontinued. 1, 3, 4, 6 This report deals with the effects of a synthetic steroid, prednisone (17α,21-dihydroxy-Δ1,4-pregnadiene-3,11,20-trione), observed in six patients with progressive systemic sclerosis. Prednisone has been found to have anti-inflammatory and...