[Favorable effect of methylprednisolone pulse therapy in dysphagia and primary idiopathic polymyositis/dermatomyositis].

In five previously not treated patients with active primary idiopathic polymyositis/dermatomyositis and severe dysphagia persisting for 3-8 weeks treatment with a series of 4-5 intravenous pulses a 1 g methylprednisolone was provided. In four patients dysphagia disappeared within 2-14 days, in one patient within 30 days marked improvement was recorded. During the 12-64-month follow up period in none of the patients relapse or deterioration of dysphagia was observed. One female patient died 12 months after establishment of the diagnosis during reactivation of the basic disease with marked fibrosis of the pulmonary interstitium, the remaining patients are in permanent remission.