Prednisone (M.S.D.) in the Treatment of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Preliminary Report
Abstract
I Grenblek, P : Acta Rheum. Scand., 2, 65-74, 1956. . I From The Physical Therapy Department Kommunehospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark PREDNISONE (M.S.D.) IN T H E TREATMENT OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Preliminary report BY P A L L E GRBNBAZK The intensive research during recent years to find new therapeutically useful adrenocortical steroids has given us several very active hormones. These new steroids include, La., two hormones with a predominant effect on the carbohydrate metabolism (Prednisone or Deltacortone and Prednisolone or Deltahydrocortone). The formula of this compound derived from cortisone (Prednisone) is shown below and is delta-1.4prednandiene-17 alpha, 21-diol-3.11.20-trione. P -0 H O PREDNISON These two new compounds have introduced a new era in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. In preliminary communications it has been reported that the antirheumatic potency of Prednisone is 3-5 times that 66 PALLE GRBNBAEK of cortisone, that the effect occurs rapidly and the toxicity is small. A t the same time it is found that in therapeutic doses Prednisone - unlike cortisone - does not cause retention of sodium and/or loss of potassium. A special diet and supplementation of potassium are not necessary. On the other hand, carbohydrate metabolism has changed; the