Effect of high dose intravenous pulse dexamethasone on lymphocyte phenotypes.

ABSTRACT

The lymphocyte phenotypes were enumerated in 10 patients with collagen diseases at 0 h, 4 h, 24 h and 7 days after a megadose (100 mg) iv pulse dexamethasone. A significant decrease in CD3 (from a mean of 2324.3/mm3 to 705.9/mm3) and CD4 (from a mean of 1642.6 to 317.6/mm3) cells was observed at 4 h, which recovered partially by 24 h (186.7 and 1226.3/mm3 respectively) and completely at 7 days (2496.1 and 1838.4/mm3). A transient decrease in CD8 cells at 4 h was also observed. There was no significant effect on B cells.