It was the aim of this study to determine any possible correlation between the peaks and changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) of a water drinking test and intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy (IVMPT) IOP response.
Patients with rheumatic disorders scheduled for IVMPT with normal ocular examination received a WDT before and after 3 days of IVMPT. The maximum value of IOPs detected during the WDT or IVMPT was regarded as peak IOP, and IOP change was defined as the difference between peak IOP and baseline IOP.
The mean ± standard deviation (SD) IOPs on the first (21.9 ± 4.6 mm Hg; p = 0.04), second (21.9 ± 4.1 mm Hg; p = 0.03) and third (21.3 ± 4.2 mm Hg; p = 0.01) days of 20 enrolled patients were greater than that at baseline (19.3 ± 2.8 mm Hg). The mean ± SD of peak IVMPT IOP response was 23.9 ± 3.7 mm Hg, and IVMPT IOP change was 4.6 ± 3.7 mm Hg. These values for the first and second WDTs were 22.9 ± 4.9 and 3.9 ± 4.07 as well as 24.1 ± 4.6 and 3.00 ± 2.9 mm Hg, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the first WDT and IVMPT IOP changes (r = 0.5, p = 0.007) and peak IOPs (r = 0.6, p = 0.001).
WDT, a low-cost and feasible test in clinical practice, may be a useful tool in determining the IOP peak and change following IVMPT.