Table 2.

Comparison of outcome parameters between single-dose and divided-dose prednisolone continuous variables expressed as median and interquartile range

Variables after 6 wk of Daily Prednisolone	Single-Dose Prednisolone (n=29)	Divided-Dose Prednisolone (n=27)	P Value
Primary outcome
Prevalence of HPA axis suppression defined as cortisol <18 μg/dl post-SST (%)	24/29 (83)	27/27 (100)	0.02
Secondary outcomes
Days from steroid initiation when HPA axis suppression was assessed (IQR)	44 (44–45)	44 (44–45)	0.43
Pre-Synacthen early morning cortisol in μg/dl (IQR)	0.37 (0.16–5.16)	0.4 (0.06–2.11)	0.34
Prevalence of early morning cortisol <3 μg/dl (%)	17/29 (58)	22/27 (81)	0.06
Post-SST cortisol level in μg/dl (IQR)	4.4 (1.6–13.1)	4 (2.1–7.4)	0.18
Remission and relapse outcomes
Time (d) to initial remission (IQR)	9 (8–13.5)	10 (7–12)	0.40
Incidence of relapse after completion of 6+6 wk of steroid (%)	9/29 (31)	10/27 (37)	0.64
Time in days to first relapse (IQR)	131 (85–145)	28 (18–40)	0.002

HPA, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal; SST, Short Synacthen Test; IQR, interquartile range.