Abstract
Summary
The effect of alternate day steroid administration on immune processes per se has been evaluated to only a limited extent. In the present study, we compared the effect on homograft rejection in rabbits of alternate day steroid administration with that of sustained release steroid administration. It was found that administration of a steroid preparation causing sustained high blood levels led to significantly greater inhibition of an immune process (homograft rejection) than did administration of another form of the same steroid preparation causing high blood levels only on alternate days. This finding would seem to bear consideration in the decision as to whether to treat autoimmune diseases with sustained high levels of steroids or on an alternate day basis. In addition, observations previously noted with respect to the relation of alternate day versus continuous steroid administration to toxicity and adrenal characteristics were supported by our findings.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.