Systemic Steroid Therapy for COPD Exacerbations

While systemic corticosteroids are clearly effective for acute asthma exacerbations, their efficacy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is less clear. In this . . .

While systemic corticosteroids are clearly effective for acute asthma exacerbations, their efficacy for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is less clear. In this multicenter study from U.S. veterans' hospitals, 271 patients admitted with COPD exacerbations were randomized to receive eight weeks of steroids, two weeks of steroids, or placebo. The steroid groups received intravenous methylprednisolone for 72 hours (125 mg every 6 hours) and then a tapering course of oral prednisone.

The rate of treatment failure (death, intubation, readmission for COPD, or intensified drug therapy) was significantly higher with placebo than with steroids at one month (33 percent vs. 23 percent) and three months (48 percent vs. 37 per…

Reviewing Author

AS Brett