Summary
This study was undertaken to determine the pharmacokinetics of intravenous prednisolone
in patients with Graves' eye disease. 6 women with Graves' ophthalmopathy treated
with prednisolone for severe endocrine exophthalmos were compared with 6 healthy female
volunteers. All subjects with Graves' disease had been taking carbimazole and I-thyroxine
as concurrent drugs for at least 4 months prior to study day. All subjects were euthyroid.
Each subject received .54 mg/kg prednisolone as an i. v. bolus. Plasma concentrations
for total and unbound prednisolone were determined by HPLC and equilibrium dialysis.
Significant increases (p < .01) in clearance values and significant decreases in half-life
times (p < .01) were found for both total and unbound prednisolone in women with Graves'
disease compared with the control subjects. Volumes of distribution at steady-state
were unchanged in both groups.
The data suggest that patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy show an enhanced elimination
for prednisolone and that is why they may need higher doses of corticoid although
the function of the thyroid gland is euthyroid.
Key-Words
Prednisolone
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Carbimazole
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Graves' Disease
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Corticoid Therapy
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Clearance
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Half-Life Time
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Volume Distribution
