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Introduction: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of intralesional corticosteroid therapy in infantile hemangiomas., Material and Methods: The study was done in 38 patients aged 1 month to 14 years with infants accounting for 84% of all patients. Physical investigation was carried out before and after treatment. Localization, size of tumor, pressure, and surface features were recorded. Doppler ultrasound was performed concomitantly and served to measure tumor size and blood flow in tumor vasculature. Midazolanium 1-2 mg/kg was administered intravenously without general anesthesia. Treatment consisted of 3-5 doses of Polcortolon with intervals of 5-6 weeks between doses. The corticosteroid dose was individualized and depended on tumor size and age of patient. The results were analyzed with the modified Sloan's scale., Results: Hemangioma was disclosed immediately after birth in 30 patients (78%). The tumor had an intense cherry color and demonstrated increased pressure and fast enlargement during the first weeks of life. In the remaining eight patients (22%), the tumor appeared after the second month of life and failed to show features of fast growth during the first year of life. The location of hemangioma was on the head and neck in 22 children (58%) and on the chest, extremities, abdomen, or lower back (lumbar region) in the remaining children. Doppler ultrasound revealed increased vascular flow in the tumor of all patients. Intralesional corticosteroid therapy resulted in reduction of tumor volume of more than 50% in 18 (47%), less than 50% in 12 (32%), and little or no change in eight (21%) cases. A very good result in one patient was achieved with two weeks of supplemental oral Prednisolon therapy. Total or partial excision of the tumor for aesthetic reasons was done in eight patients in whom intralesional corticosteroid therapy produced substantial reduction in tumor size., Conclusions: Intralesional corticosteroid therapy is an effective and safe modality particularly suitable for the management of extensive hemangiomas of the head and neck when surgical options are limited.

Levels of an interleukin 10 (IL-10) are reduced in asthmatic patients in comparison to healthy subjects. Fact, that IL-10 is produced by Th1 and that inhibits cytokine production by Th2 lymphocytes has led to the concept that IL-10 might be beneficial in mitigating allergic inflammation. The purpose of this study was to define the effect of 4 week monotherapy with triamcinolone acetonide or nedocromil sodium on the serum level of IL-10, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and clinical parameters in atopic asthma children. It was an 8 week, randomised, double-blind trial of 37 children with moderate asthma allergic to house dust mite. Patients were randomly allocated to receive 200 mcg triamcinolone twice daily (n = 18), or 0.004 g nedocromil four times daily (n = 19). Thirty children completed the study. After treatment with triamcinolone the level of IL-10 in blood serum significantly increased, bronchial hyperreactivity significantly decreased, and all clinical parameters improved. Mean IL-10 levels in serum before and after treatment with triamcinolone were 7.5 pg/ml with 95%CI 6.79%-8.22% and 14.21 pg/ml with 95%CI 11.33%-17.09% respectively (p < 0.001). After treatment with nedocromil, clinical symptoms improved significantly, IL-10 serum levels and bronchial hyperreactivity did not change significantly (p = 0.094 and p = 0.09 respectively). This study demonstrates that one possible way by which triamcinolone contribute to inhibition of inflammation is by effect on IL-10.

The authors tried to assess the effectiveness of the treatment with epidural steroid injections in cases with lumbar discopathy and chronic ischialgia++. Thirty patients were given one or two injections of Depo-Medrol or Polcortolon with added bupivacaine++ into the epidural space. The same number of patients were treated without such injections. Control examinations after 21 days showed greater and earlier improvement after Depo-Medrol . The results of Polcortolon were less evident. No side effects were observed.

14 patients with chronic bronchitis were observed after from 1.5 to 8 years of regular treatment with corticosteroids of sustained action given intramuscularly. The patients were analysed from the standpoint of age, sex, duration of corticosteroid treatment, type and dose of the drugs, and smoking. In 9 of them accelerated development of osteoporosis was noted its appearance depended significantly only on age and sex.