Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Atrial fibrillation following methylprednisolone pulse therapy

  • Brief Report
  • Published:
Pediatric Nephrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two children, one with renal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus and the other with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, were treated with methylprednisolone pulses. Neither had previous evidence of underlying cardiac disease. Within 24 h of pulse therapy, they complained of palpitations and developed atrial fibrillation which reversed spontaneously or after anti-arrhythmic therapy. Subsequent serial electro-and echocardiograms were normal. We propose that the arrhythmias were a complication of steroid pulse therapy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

References

  1. Barron KS, Person DA, Brewer EJ, Beale MG, Robson AM (1982) Pulse methylprednisolone therapy in diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis. J Pediatr 101: 137–141

    Google Scholar 

  2. Garrett R, Paulus H (1980) Complications of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Arthritis Rheum 23: 677

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bocanegra TS, Castanèda MO, Espinoza LR, Vasey FB, Germain BF (1981) Sudden death after methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Ann Intern Med 95: 122

    Google Scholar 

  4. Moses RE, McCormick A, Nickey W (1981) Fatal arrythmia after pulse methylprednisolone therapy. Ann Intern Med 95: 782

    Google Scholar 

  5. Belmonte MA, Cequiere A, Roig-Escofet D (1986) Severe ventricular arrythmia after methylprednisolone pulse therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. J Rheumatol 13: 477–478

    Google Scholar 

  6. Stubbs SS, Morrell RM (1973) Intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate: adverse reactions reported in association with immunosuppressive therapy. Transplant Proc 5: 1145–1146

    Google Scholar 

  7. Cole BR, Brocklebank JT, Kienstra RA, Kissane JM, Robson AM (1976) “Pulse” methylprednisolone therapy in the treatment of severe glomerulonephritis. J Pediatr 88: 307–314

    Google Scholar 

  8. Imbasciati E, Gusmano R, Edefonti A, Zucchelli P, Pozzi C, Grassi C, Volpe MD, Perfumo F, Petrone P, Picca M, Appiani AC, Pasquali S, Ponticelli C (1985) Controlled trial of methylprednisolone pulses and low dose oral prednisone for the minimal change nephrotic syndrome. Br Med J 291: 1305–1308

    Google Scholar 

  9. Guideri G, Green M, Lehr D (1978) Potentiation of isoproterenol cardiotoxicity by corticoids. Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol 21: 197–212

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lown B, Arons WL, Ganong WF, Vazifdar JP, Levine SA (1955) Adrenal steroids and auriculoventricular conduction. Am Heart J 50: 760–769

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ueda, N., Yoshikawa, T., Chihara, M. et al. Atrial fibrillation following methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Pediatr Nephrol 2, 29–31 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00870376

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00870376

Key words

Navigation