TABLE 3.
Overview of 11 articles included in the literature review examining glucocorticoids a : summary of study characteristics, study design and stated basis for equivalence
| Article | Study population | Date of recruitment | Children/adults b | Country | Number of patients | Study design | Study objective | Stated basis for equivalence and respective reference (only references since the year 1985) | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arteaga (1999) 51 | Patients with persistent hypokalemia after successful adrenalectomy due to Cushing's syndrome due to ectopic ACTH secretion | Not stated | Adults | Chile | 1 | Case report | Hypokalaemia | Not stated | – |
| Arzneimittelkommission der Deutschen Apotheker 15 | – | – | Adults | Germany | – | Tables of equivalent doses | – | Antiinflammatory potency based on literature research of the “Arzneimittelkommission der Deutschen apotheker” | – |
| Bostrom (2003) 52 | Patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in the Children's Cancer Group | 1993–1995 | Children | USA, Canada | 1060 | Randomized controlled trial (2 × 2 factorial design) comparing dexamethasone versus prednisone | Relapse and event free survival | “Dexamethasone is approximately 7‐fold more potent than prednisone”; statement based on “published equivalency tables” from in‐vitro studies | – |
| Ekstrand (2020) 53 | Patients with hypopituitarism receiving growth hormone replacement | 1990–2002 | Adults | Sweden (authors) | 229 | Prospective trial (post‐hoc analysis): 1 switch group (cortisone acetate— > hydrocortison), two control groups (cortisone acetate only and no glucocorticoid replacement) | Metabolic effects | Antiinflammatory potency based on Filipsson 2006 54 and on literature from before 1985 | – |
| Filipsson (2006) 54 | Hypopituitary patients from KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) | 2004 (inclusion) | Adults | 28 countries in database, non‐European patients excluded | 2424 | Longitudinal survey, examination at baseline and one year after growth hormone treatment | Metabolic outcome comparing three groups (hydrocortisone, cortisone acetate, and prednisolone/dexamethasone) | ”Previous antiinflammatory comparisons” based on references from before 1985 | – |
| Lovas (2006) 55 | Patients with Addison's disease and healthy controls | Not stated | Adults | Norway | 31 patients with Addison's disease and 20 healthy controls | Correlational study | Correlation of serum and saliva cortisol | “Conventional glucocorticoid replacement therapy” based on Arlt 2003 56 | Reference in article 56 is literature review without definitive factor |
| Pfeiffer (1992) 57 | Patients with avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head after steroid therapy for cerebral trauma | 1981–1987 (accident) | Adolescents | Germany | 3 | Case series | Avascular osteonecrosis of the femoral head | “prednisone equivalent” based on textbooks 58 , 59 | – |
| Puglisi (2021) 60 | Patients with an established diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency | 1995–2018 | Adults | Italy | 203 | Case series | Influence of the etiology of adrenal insufficiency on the types of glucocorticoid used | Hydrocortisone equivalent dose (HEC); no reference stated | – |
| Sandrini (1993) 61 | Patients with salt‐losing form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21‐hydroxylase deficiency | Not stated | Children and adolescents | USA | 19 | Case series | Variation of cortisol dose with age | “Equivalent dose of oral cortisol” based on two articles before 1985 and two textbooks 62 , 63 | – |
| Swords (2003) 64 | Hypopituitary patients | Not stated | Adults | UK (authors) | 10 | Prospective, cross‐over study | Influence on growth hormone therapy comparing different glucocorticoids | Not stated | – |
| Tabone (2021) 65 | Childhood cancer survivors from acute leukemia included in follow‐programme LEA and fulfilling certain criteria | Since 1980 | Children at diagnosis, Adults at follow‐up | France | 89 | Follow‐up of a cohort | Factors influencing bone mineral density | Not stated | – |
Abbreviations: ALL, acute lymphatic leukemia; AML, acute myelocytic leukemia; CML, chronic myelocytic leukemia.
a
Articles which (1) mentioned a conversion factor or doses which permitted the calculation of a conversion factor, (2) have been published since the year 1985 and (3) of which a full‐text in English or German was available (see Table 1).
b
In studies on childhood cancer survivors, the inclusion in the study might have taken place as adults. The age groups were defined as follows: children: below the age of 18; adults: above the age of 18; adolescents: age 16–25 (only mentioned if there were mixed groups of either adolescents and adults or children and adolescents).