Comparison of Large and Small Doses of Hormones in the Treatment of Acute Rheumatic Carditis

Abstract

Disappearance of significant murmurs was twice as common in 47 rheumatic children treated with large doses of hormones as in a comparable group of 41 children treated with small doses of hormones. Results were also related to the duration of illness before therapy was started. The findings suggest that the divergencies of opinion regarding the efficacy of hormones in the treatment of acute rheumatic carditis may in part be explained on the basis of differences in doses of hormones, in duration of therapy, and in duration of illness before the beginning of therapy.