Methylprednisolone in systemic lupus erythematosus.

39 patients who received pulse methylprednisolone for disease manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus were studied for zero to twenty-four weeks following therapy. Pulse methylprednisolone was given as intravenous infusions of methylprednisolone (10 mg/kg body weight) over one hour each day for three consecutive days. 27 (69.2%) patients were treated for lupus nephritis, 12 (30.8%) patients for non-renal manifestations of lupus. 17 (63.0%) of the renal lupus patients and 7 (58.3%) of the non-renal lupus patients showed clinical response