A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF INTRAVENOUS METHYL PREDNISOLONE VERSUS DEXAMETHASONE IN MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH POSTERIOR SCLERITIS

Abstract

Introduction: Posterior scleritis is a relatively uncommon condition and often misdiagnosed due to varied manifestations. The main stay of treatment is systemic steroids and immunosuppressive therapy. The present study was done to compare the effect of intravenous methyl prednisolone and the conventional intravenous dexamethasone in management of patients diagnosed with posterior scleritis at a tertiary eye care center.

Methodology: It was a retrospective comparative study of 6 patients of posterior scleritis at a tertiary eye care center which were treated primarily with intravenous methylprednisolone or dexamethasone. Group A and B comprised of 3 patients each. Group A patients were started on intravenous Methylprednisolone therapy wherein a dose of 1gm in 500ml of 5% Dextrose was infused over 2 hours under cardiac monitoring for 3 days. Group B patients were administered 08 mg intravenous Dexamethasone twice daily for first 3 days. Subsequently on 4th day patients of both groups were switched over to 1.5 mg/ kg body weight of oral Prednisolone therapy in tapering dose.

Results: control of pain and inflammation was achieved faster in group A patients treated with intravenous methylprednisolone as compared with group B patients receiving intravenous dexamethasone. Though the final visual and clinical outcomes were nearly the same.

Conclusion: Patients of posterior scleritis treated with intravenous Methylprednisolone had a quicker and a more effective response when instituted early in the disease in comparison to Intravenous dexamethasone.