01927nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653002500059653002900084653001800113653001600131653003000147653002100177653001100198653001900209653002300228653002500251653001900276100001400295700001500309700001600324245008900340300001000429490000700439050001700446520114800463022001401611       2002                            d  c2002 Jul-Sep10aAdministration, Oral10aAnti-Inflammatory Agents10aBetamethasone10aClofazimine10aDrug Therapy, Combination10aErythema Nodosum10aHumans10aInfusion Pumps10aLeprostatic Agents10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aPilot Projects1 aGirdhar A1 aChakma J K1 aGirdhar B K00aPulsed corticosteroid therapy in patients with chronic recurrent ENL: a pilot study.  a233-60 v74  aGIRDHAR 20023 a<p>A pilot study has been undertaken to compare the efficacy of small dose pulsed betamethasone therapy with need based oral steroids in chronic recurrent erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) patients. Though this mode of therapy was well tolerated, no advantage with intermittent steroid administration was observed. This could have been on account of small dose of steroid given monthly. Treatment of chronic recurrent erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) patients continues to be unsatisfactory, particularly, because of nonavailability of thalidomide. Though corticosteroids are effective in suppressing all the manifestations and even restoring partially or fully the functional impairment, their side effects and dependence are equally troublesome. Based on (a) the reported efficacy and safety of intermittent use of corticosteroids in several immune complex mediated disorders (Cathcart et al 1976, Kimberly et al 1979), Liebling et al 1981 and Pasricha & Gupta 1984) and (b) ENL (type II) reactions having similar pathology, a pilot study has been undertaken to see the efficacy and the tolerance of pulsed steroids in chronic ENL patients.</p>  a0254-9395