[Therapy with large doses of methylprednisolone in Basedow's ophthalmopathy]

Up to now there is no satisfactory therapeutical method in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). Recently, several authors have published the results of the so-called "pulse" method of corticotherapy, using intravenous methylprednisolone (MP) 1 g dissolved in 200 ml isotonic NaCl solution. We have treated with this method 4 patients (3 women and 1 man, aged between 35-62 years) with severe GO (III-V class after AMT Classification). Although the number of perfusions varied between 1 (2 patients) and 8, the results are encouraging: 3 improvements, 1 stationary evolution (after a single "pulse"). We have not noticed important side-effects. In conclusion we consider that the "pulse" method have proved its efficiency, recommendable in severe GO.