ABSTRACT
Purpose - To report the result of patients treated with IV methylprednisolone divided into three groups and compare their follow-up during the last 12 years. Methods - Seventy children with active rheumatic carditis (76 episodes) in heart failure Class III and IV (NYHA) were studied. The diagnosis was based on modified Jones' criteria. After rulling out infections and stronglyoidiasis, treatment with IV methylprednisolone bolus was started three times a week until the laboratory tests became negative. Patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the time of hospital admittance: Groups 1,2 and 3, comprising of 40, 18 and 12 children, respectively. Results - Eighteen children in Group 1 (45 per cent) were in their 1st attack: 2 series of pulsetherapy were used in 10 (25 per cent), 3 in 9 (23 per cent) and 4 in 21 (52 per cent). In Group 2, 14 cases (77 per cent) were in their 1st attack: 2 series were used in 7 (39 per cent), 4 in 9 (50 per cent) and 5 in 2 (11 per cent). The echocardiogram showed a flail mitral valve in 12 (66 per cent) of these patients (1 death occurred after mitral valvoplasty). In Group 3,6 patients needed 5 or more series of pulsetherapy and a flail mitral valve was present in 5 (41 per cent). One child underwent mitral valve replacement while still in the active phase, after 8 series of pulsetherapy, and another died. The number of patients who needed 5 or more series was significantly higher in Group 3. Conclusion - There were variations in the presentation and evolution of the cases during these 12 year. The established pulsetherapy protocol continues to be useful to treat severe cases.