Clinical efficacy of prednisone in the treatment of patients with oral inflammatory ulcerative diseases: a study of fifty-five patients.

An objective evaluation of 55 patients with chronic vesiculoerosive oral diseases was made to compare the beneficial and adverse effects of prednisone treatment. Patients were divided into groups of high, intermediate, and low drug dosages, as well as short and long periods of administration. Prednisone benefited 49 patients in spite of the fact that 55% had some adverse side effects. The duration of prednisone administration appeared to have a larger impact on side effects than the daily amount given. The most common side effects were gastrointestinal disturbances, mood alterations, polyuria and insomnia. There were no significant changes in blood pressure, blood sugar level, weight, or white blood cell counts. This study confirmed that systemic prednisone is a useful and beneficial treatment modality for patients with chronic oral inflammatory diseases.