1 Department of Pediatrics, Tufts University School of Medicine, and the Pediatric Endocrine-Metabolic Service, New England Medical Center Hospitals (Boston Floating Hospital for Infants and Children), Boston
Seven children, six with ulcerative colitis and one with granulomatous colitis, were treated with prednisone administered as a single dose on alternate days for periods of between 1 and 3
years. All seven are attending school regularly and are growing and gaining at rates that approach normal. None show the features of Cushing's syndrome. Gastrointestinal symptoms have been slight, the bowel lesions have improved radiologically, and the findings on sigmoidoscopy and rectal biopsy have been equally satisfactory. A significant degree of therapeutic benefit has been achieved with little in the way of side effects, but one cannot yet predict whether the long-term risk of carcinoma has diminished.