Effects of duration of glucocorticoid therapy on relapse rate in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: A meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Disease relapses are common for patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). The role of low-dose glucocorticoids (GC) in relapse prevention is controversial. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine if GC target doses influence relapses of AAV.

Methods

Medline, EMBase, and Cochrane databases were searched for observational studies and randomized controlled trials of treatment of AAV that included a predefined GC treatment plan. The association of GC target dose with the proportion of relapses in studies was assessed using meta-regression and multilevel generalized linear modeling.

Results

Thirteen studies (983 patients) were identified for inclusion. There were no studies directly comparing GC regimen

SUBMITTER: Walsh M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2946200 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature