Pharmacological aspects of corticosteroid pulse therapy

Pulse corticosteroid therapy involves intravenous administration of "suprapharmacological" doses (0.5-2 g) of prednisolone or its equivalents. This dose is usually given on three consecutive days and possibly once a month thereafter. The pharmacological effects of the single pulse dose lasted for about two days. Whether these effects differ quantitatively or qualitatively from the effects of the smaller, conventional doses is unclear at present. The usual side-effects of glucocorticoid therapy may occur with pulse therapy but evidently less frequently than with conventional modes of steroid therapy.