Comparative adverse effects of low-dose oral prednisolone and oral mini pulse dexamethasone in patients of vitiligo
Abstract
Objective To compare the adverse effects of low-dose oral prednisolone and oral mini pulse dexamethasone in patients of vitiligo.Methods A clinical trial was carried out from January 2013 to December 2013. Total sixty patients of vitiligo were enrolled and 30 of group A patients were treated with low dose oral prednisolone (0.3 mg/kg body weight) daily and 30 of group B patients were treated with oral dexamethasone pulse therapy (10 mg per week) for 16 weeks.Results During 12 week follow-up, increased body weight, headache, dyspepsia and fatigue were more frequent in group A as compared to group B. Similarly, in group A other side effects noted were acne (33.3%), mooning of face (26.6%), striae (26.6%), hypertrichosis 13.2%, purpura (6.7%) and among the female patients, menstrual abnormality (71.4%) whereas in group B, no patient developed these problems from baseline to follow- up period (p<0.05).Conclusion Low dose oral prednisolone was found to be associated with more adverse effects than oral  examethasone pulse therapy in treating vitiligo.ÂReferences
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