To evaluate efficacy of low dose prednisolone maintenance in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
An open, prospective pilot study of prednisolone for the treatment of 20 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome was performed. Evaluations included the amount of whole saliva measured by the Saxon test, serological abnormalities and oral symptoms.
Initial dosage of prednisolone was 15.0+/-1.5 (mean+/-SEM) mg/day. Maintenance dosage was 7.5-5.0 mg/day. Follow-up period was 26.3+/-3.8 months (range 3-48). The amount of whole saliva significantly increased after 1 month of prednisolone therapy and the increase continued up to 48 months by maintaining low-dose prednisolone. A mean percent increase of whole saliva from baseline ranged from +105.2+/-36.2% to +245.7+/-82.1%. Serum IgG, anti-SS-A/Ro, anti-SS-B/La antibodies and IgM rheumatoid factor levels significantly decreased throughout the study with partial decreases of IgA and IgM levels. The improvement of subjective oral symptoms was also confirmed.
Low-dose prednisolone maintenance may have a worthwhile clinical benefit in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome that deserves further evaluation in a controlled trial.