Results

A total of 548 questionnaires were sent out, 319 were returned, 212 being from consultant neurologists. This represents 74% of consultants in March 1997 (administrator for the Association of British Neurologists, personal communication), whose responses are detailed below.

CORTICOSTEROIDS FOR ACUTE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RELAPSE

Eighty six per cent of United Kingdom consultant neurologists would prescribe corticosteroids in 25% or more cases of acute multiple sclerosis relapse. In all, more than 99% would prescribe corticosteroids for acute multiple sclerosis relapse on some occasions (table (a)). Intravenous methylprednisolone was recommended by 83% (176/211) for the treatment of a quarter or more cases of acute multiple sclerosis relapse (table (b)); 99% of neurologists would prescribe intravenous methylprednisolone on some occasions. The most popular dosage regime was 1 g daily for 3 days (74%; 154/208 of those who recommended intravenous methylprednisolone). The second most popular was 0.5 g daily for 5 days (26%; 53/208). Some recommended either course (7%; 15/208).

ORAL CORTICOSTEROID USE AFTER A PULSED COURSE OF INTRAVENOUS METHYLPREDNISOLONE

Over half (53%; 109/206) would never recommend a tapering course of oral corticosteroids after a pulsed course of intravenous methylprednisolone, whereas 10% (20/205) always would (table (c)). Oral prednisolone was recommended by 91% (87/96) and dexamethasone by 10% (10/96), although one consultant would use either. Oral prednisolone starting doses ranged from 20 to 100 mg daily, tapering to zero over 5 to 42 days. Fifty five per cent (53/96) recommended a course tapering for 2 or more weeks, and 25% (24/96) for a month or more. Of the 10% (20/206) that always recommended a tapering course of oral prednisolone, 60% (12/20) specified a course tapering for 2 or more weeks and 20% (4/20) for a month or more. Five recommended alternate daily dosing. Oral dexamethasone regimes ranged from 6 to 16 mg daily tapering to zero over 5 to 20 days, the most popular course being a starting dose of 16 mg (the equivalent anti-inflammatory dose of prednisolone being 107 mg) tapering to zero over 12 to 16 days (4/10).

ADMINISTRATION OF INTRAVENOUS METHYLPREDNISOLONE OTHER THAN AS AN INPATIENT

Of those who recommended intravenous methylprednisolone, 88% (181/206) were able to offer the course as a day case on the ward; 7% (15/206) at an outpatient clinic, and 5% (11/206) at home. Three consultant neurologists (for whom it was appropriate to answer) did not respond.

ORAL CORTICOSTEROIDS FOR ACUTE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS RELAPSE

Seventy four per cent (157/212) would recommend oral corticosteroids instead of intravenous methylprednisolone for multiple sclerosis relapse at sometime, although the most popular response was for occasional use (48%; 101/212) (table (d)). Sixty six per cent (103/156) recommended oral prednisolone, 23% (36/156) oral methylprednisolone, 14% (22/156) oral dexamethasone, and two oral prednisone. The most often endorsed oral prednisolone regime was 60 mg daily, tapering to zero over 10 to 28 days (35/156). Other regimes ranged from starting doses of 15 mg to 500 mg tapering to zero over 3 to 56 days. Six per cent (9/156) specified a tapering course lasting more than 1 month. The most popular oral methylprednisolone regimes were 500 mg daily for 5 days (44%; 16/36) and 1 g daily for 3 days (4/36). Dosage regimes of oral dexamethasone ranged from 6 to 16 mg daily for 5 to 21 days. Some recommended either of the 2 types of corticosteroid. In all 13 did not specify a dose, three of whom wrote “variable”. One did not respond to the whole question.

CORTICOSTEROIDS FOR CHRONIC MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (NOT INCLUDING ACUTE RELAPSE)

The majority (55%; 115/211) said that they never used corticosteroids for patients with chronic progressive multiple sclerosis who were not in acute relapse, but 45% (96/211) would do so at times and 5% (11) would do so in more than a quarter of cases (table (e)). Intravenous methylprednisolone was the most popular drug for chronic progressive multiple sclerosis (76%; 70/92 of responders), the most often used regime being 1 g daily for 3 days (30 out of 65 who specified a dose). A course of oral prednisolone was the second most popular option (34%; 31/92). Courses varied greatly, ranging from starting doses of 15 to 60 mg tapering to zero over 12 to 84 or more days. Two consultants occasionally used long term oral prednisolone (more than 3 months) and two used alternate day dosing. Other corticosteroids recommended included dexamethasone (four) oral methylprednisolone (two), and ACTH (one). Five neurologists for whom it was applicable to answer the question did not do so, a further 28% (26/92) did not specify a dosage regime, although some recommended more than one course.

Discussion

Eighty six per cent of United Kingdom consultant neurologists would prescribe corticosteroids in a quarter or more cases of acute multiple sclerosis relapse; more than 99% would prescribe corticosteroids for acute multiple sclerosis relapse on some occasions. Therefore there was consensus that steroids should be prescribed for some relapses of multiple sclerosis, intravenous methylprednisolone being recommended in a fair proportion. No clear consensus was evident as to the type, duration, and dosage of corticosteroids or in their use for chronic multiple sclerosis. Evidence from randomised clinical trials confirms that corticosteroids are superior to placebo in accelerating recovery from relapses. The first trial in the 1960s found ACTH (not commercially available in the United Kingdom any more due to its variable and unpredictable therapeutic response) to be superior to placebo,2 in two later trials intravenous methylprednisolone was found to be comparable or superior to ACTH.3 4 Intravenous methylprednisolone (15 mg/kg/daily tapering to zero over 15 days (n=23),5 or 500 mg daily for 5 days (n=50),6 or 1g daily for 5 days (n=35)7 has been shown to be more effective than placebo. High dose intravenous methylprednisolone (5750 mg total over 14 days) has been shown to be comparable with intravenous dexamethasone (n=31)8 (78 mg over 14 days; total equivalent anti-inflammatory dose being 390 mg methylprednisolone).

Patients in clinical trials, however, may not be representative of the population seen by neurologists in clinical practice. Reasons probably include variable access of patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis to specialist neurology services: some being seen at the height of relapse, others when the relapse has resolved or is obviously improving, and an unknown proportion of less severe episodes either being assessed by the general practitioner or not at all.

There is little evidence to advocate corticosteroids in chronic progressive multiple sclerosis,6 7 9 although 45% of neurologists would do so at least occasionally, perhaps unconvinced by evidence based on small numbers. Alternatively there may be pressure to offer “something” in an otherwise “hopeless” situation.

Ten per cent (20/206) of neurologists always recommended a tapering course of oral corticosteroids after intravenous methylprednisolone, with 25% (24/96) advocating a course lasting a month or more. Evidence for or against tapering oral corticosteroids after intravenous methylprednisolone is scant: increased side effects have been found without measurable beneficial effects.5 Furthermore, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis recovers sufficiently after short term high dose intravenous methylprednisolone such that oral replacement therapy is not required for this reason.10Thus a short tapering course of oral corticosteroids seems justified only for a few patients clearly shown to relapse when a pulsed course of intravenous methylprednisolone is stopped.

Data from two recent clinical trials have suggested equivalence between oral and intravenous corticosteroids,1 11 and although almost three quarters of neurologists recommended oral corticosteroids instead of intravenous methylprednisolone for acute multiple sclerosis relapse at sometime, only a minority (8%; 16/212) often or always did so. The most popular oral corticosteroid was prednisolone (66%; 103/156) starting at 60 mg, tapering to zero over 20 to 28 days (22%; 35/156), the regime recommended in one recent trial.1 Fear was expressed that the prescribing of oral rather than intravenous corticosteroids for acute multiple sclerosis relapse would lead to chronic courses of corticosteroids12; however, this was not substantiated by the results seen here. Only 6% (9/156) of respondents recommended oral corticosteroids for more than one month, although it is not known whether these recommendations are adhered to in practice, especially once the patient is under general practitioner supervision. Corticosteroids given orally have several advantages over those given intravenously—namely, reduced nursing and doctor time, reduced risk of infection (associated with intravenous administration), reduced necessity to admit to hospital, and an estimated cost saving of £472 000 per year in the United Kingdom (if all multiple sclerosis relapses were treated with oral prednisolone instead of intravenous methylprednisolone).13 However, most neurologists remained unconvinced that oral instead of intravenous corticosteroids should be routinely prescribed; a larger randomised multicentre trial may clarify previous findings and help to rationalise practice.