[Intravenous therapy with methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide in vasculitis of peripheral nervous system. Evaluation of 8 patients]. / Terapêutica intravenosa com metilprednisolona e ciclofosfamida na vasculite do sistema nervoso periférico. Avaliação de oito pacientes.

ABSTRACT

The peripheral nervous system is frequently involved in systemic vasculitis and it may be helpful in the disease diagnosis. We report on eight patients seven women and one man; five white, two black and one yellow; age mean 55.9 years; four had polyarteritis nodosa, one had systemic lupus erythematosus, one had isolated peripheral nerve vasculitis and one had livedoid vasculitis. All of them received endovenous therapy with "pulse" of methylprednisolone (1 g/day/3 days) and cyclophosphamide (1 g/1 day). Five patients improved, two remained unchanged and one died. The neurological improvement occurred after the third or fourth pulse and in the patients who have had a shorter time of disease.