Does prednisolone depress the immune system at alike time as it is supressing asthma?
Significant acute asthmatic attacks, the majority of which are viral induced, are routinely managed with short sharp courses of oral prednisolone.Prednisolone suppresses the immune system. Does this mean that the steroids given to suppress the asthma at matching time may reduce the bodies ability to cope with the contributing infection?
Basically, if a short sharp course of Pred. is given, will it increase the risk of secondary complications as a result of the viral infection?
Comments and suggestions appreciated (links would be great too)
Rhianna
Answers:
Thank you for the question. A very suitable one, I may add.
The short answer is no.
First, a standard "anti-inflammatory" course of a corticosteroid for an acute asthmatic attack is typically 5-7 days, usually at a dosage of 40 mg. However, this dosage AND time course are too short for any corticosteroid to suppress the actions of T-cells, which as you know are instrumental in cell-mediated imperviousness.
Secondly, the response of the immune response to a viral infection is typically an antibody-mediated event, especially early in the infection when B-cells (actually plasma cells) are already immediately secrete pre-formed antibody while the B-cells are "learning" to secrete more specific antibodies. In the time frame of a typical viral URI, this process remains untouched by short, small-moderate doses of corticosteroids. Source(s): My remote medical training.
Yes, but it isn't a profound effect, and if you stop breathing it won't matter, so the risk-to-benefit analysis is a no-brainer. Also, the inflammatory component of the asthma probably increases the risk of pneumonia a good deal more than the steroids.
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Basically, if a short sharp course of Pred. is given, will it increase the risk of secondary complications as a result of the viral infection?
Comments and suggestions appreciated (links would be great too)
Rhianna
Answers:
Thank you for the question. A very suitable one, I may add.
The short answer is no.
First, a standard "anti-inflammatory" course of a corticosteroid for an acute asthmatic attack is typically 5-7 days, usually at a dosage of 40 mg. However, this dosage AND time course are too short for any corticosteroid to suppress the actions of T-cells, which as you know are instrumental in cell-mediated imperviousness.
Secondly, the response of the immune response to a viral infection is typically an antibody-mediated event, especially early in the infection when B-cells (actually plasma cells) are already immediately secrete pre-formed antibody while the B-cells are "learning" to secrete more specific antibodies. In the time frame of a typical viral URI, this process remains untouched by short, small-moderate doses of corticosteroids. Source(s): My remote medical training.
Yes, but it isn't a profound effect, and if you stop breathing it won't matter, so the risk-to-benefit analysis is a no-brainer. Also, the inflammatory component of the asthma probably increases the risk of pneumonia a good deal more than the steroids.
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