A study explored the effect of prednisone (a glucocorticoid) on the inflammatory biomarkers in a prior multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial that evaluated a seven-day therapy course of 50-mg prednisone to placebo in a large scale cohort of people hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia.
A secondary analysis of a randomized trial showed that
compared to placebo, prednisone therapy in a dose of 50 mg/day considerably
reduced C-reactive protein levels, increased leukocyte and neutrophil counts,
and had no effects on the levels of procalcitonin in patients with
community-acquired pneumonia.
A study explored the effect of prednisone (a glucocorticoid)
on the inflammatory biomarkers in a prior multicenter, randomized,
placebo-controlled clinical trial that evaluated a seven-day therapy course of
50-mg prednisone to placebo in a large scale cohort of people hospitalized with
community-acquired pneumonia.
Using Wilcoxon tests and analysis of variance, the levels of
C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin, leukocyte and neutrophil count was
estimated between people with and without glucocorticoid therapy at baseline
and on days three, five, and seven and at discharge. Overall, 355 patient data
sets in the placebo group and 356 in the prednisone group were available for
assessment.
In comparison with placebo, the usage of prednisone was linked
with a decline in the levels of CRP on days three, five, and seven (mean difference
46%). No such difference was noted for procalcitonin. At all the time points,
the leukocyte and neutrophil counts were greater in the prednisone group (mean
difference of 33% for neutrophils and 27% for leukocytes).
Prednisone does not considerably influence procalcitonin
levels. Hence, the levels of procalcitonin may be a more suitable and reliable
parameter for therapy response in
pneumonia patients receiving prednisone and can better mirror the
resolution of infection than the traditional inflammatory markers.
The Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
Influence of Prednisone on Inflammatory Biomarkers in Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial
Natalie Raess et al.
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