AIM: Ocular involvement in @entity226 ( @entity226 ) is an ophthalmic emergency which, if untreated, can progress to permanent @entity1939 . There is little evidence in the literature to support current protocols for the acute treatment of @entity226 with @entity230 . The authors sought to review the effects of intravenous and oral @entity230 in @entity226 . METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the records of 100 consecutive @entity1 with biopsy proved @entity226 . 73 @entity1 with @entity227 who were treated at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital (RVEEH) and St Vincent's Hospital were included in the final series. The authors studied the management of the @entity1 in the first week after presentation, analysing types of treatment, dose, effect on visual acuity, and complications. RESULTS: All the @entity1 except one had @entity227 due to @entity1781 ( @entity1781 ). 17 @entity1 (23%) had bilateral eye involvement. Visual acuity improved in 21 of 73 @entity1 (29%) by a mean of two Snellen chart lines after commencement of @entity230 . There was an increased likelihood of improved vision in the group who had intravenous @entity230 (40%) compared with those who received oral @entity230 (13%). In all except four @entity1 (95%) vision remained stable at 1 month review. CONCLUSIONS: Prompt treatment of @entity226 with @entity230 leads to improvement of visual acuity in a significant number of cases. Intravenous @entity230 may offer a greater prospect of improvement compared with oral @entity230 . A prospective trial comparing intravenous with oral @entity230 is needed to validate these findings and would not expose elderly @entity1 to unacceptable risks.

Steroid management in XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity227 :: ('MESH:D014786', 'Disease') :: ['visual loss'] @entity226 :: ('MESH:D013700', 'Disease') :: ['giant cell arteritis', 'GCA'] @entity1939 :: ('MESH:D001766', 'Disease') :: ['blindness'] @entity1781 :: ('MESH:D009901', 'Disease') :: ['anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy', 'AION'] @entity230 :: ('MESH:D013256', 'Chemical') :: ['steroids']
@entity226 :: (MESH:D013700,Disease) :: ['giant cell arteritis']
