Paramethasone

Abstract: Adjuvant periarthritis induced by subplantan injection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was investigated in rats, mice and guinea pigs. Rats developed disseminated lesions in all extremities, ears and skin, whereas in mice and guinea pigs the inflammation remained localized in the adjuvant-injected paw. Among the various agents administered daily for 14 consecutive days, paramethasone, phenylbutazone, oxyphenbutazone, indomethacin and N-(2,6-dichloro- m -tolyl)-anthranilic acid inhibited full development of inflammation in the adjuvant-injected paw and also reduced lesions in the ears and tail and other extremities. Estradiol, 6-mercaptopunine and amethopterin completely suppressed the disseminated lesions. Chionoquin exerted no significant effect on the acute primary inflammation and the later occurring secondary lesions. Chiorpromazine and streptomycin aggravated the symptoms of adjuvant periarthritis. A second treatment period (days 26 through 35), using paramethasone, phenylbutazone and acetylsalicylic acid, again resulted in arrest and amelionation of the inflammatory process and, in addition, prevented to a great extent the aggravation of inflammation observed after termination of the first treatment.

Abstract: In an attempt to elucidate the effect of paramethasone acetate on the hormonal profile of the normal menstrual cycle, 5 clinically healthy women, aged 24-36 yr, with ovulatory cycles were studied during a control menstrual cycle and during treatment with paramethasone acetate (6 mg/day). The length of the untreated cycle was 29.2 +/- 2.3 days as compared to 29.0 +/- 3.1 days during the paramethasone-treated cycle. Peak plasma E-2 level was 188.2 +/- 42.1 pg/ml in the control cycle and 74.4 +/- 15.3 pg/ml during paramethasone treatment (P is less than 0.05). Peak plasma 17 OH-P was 4.0 +/- 0.4 ng/ml in the control cycle and 1.6 +/- 0.2 ng/ml during the paramethasone treated cycle (P is less than 0.005). No significant differences in plasma progesterone were observed during the luteal phase of both cycles. Minimal and scattered differences were observed in plasma FSH. However, plasma LH levels were lower in the paramethasone acetate than in the control cycle almost throughout the entire period of study. Furthermore, midcycle LH peak in the control cycle was 958 +/- 104 ng/ml as compared to 283 +/- 24 ng/ml during the paramethasone treatment (P is less than 0.005). Despite these differences, ovulation occurred during paramethasone treatment based upon the observed rise in BBT, the plasma progesterone levels above 6 ng/ml and the secretory changes in the endometrium. These results suggest that: 1) Paramethasone may block E-2 synthesis at the ovarian level and , 2) Ovulation may still occur even in the presence of E-2 and LH plasma concentrations lower than those occurring in the normal menstrual cycle.

Abstract: Serum lysozyme levels are found to be increased in adjuvant polyarthritic rats and correlate well with gross limb findings and the decreases in turbidity measurements as determined by the stability of serum protein against heat denaturation. Paramethasone, phenylbutazone and indomethacin, which have been shown to normalize limb swelling and turbidity levels in adjuvant rats, also prevent the observed increases in serum lysozyme activity. Acetylsalicylic acid is found to be ineffective. An increase in lysozyme levels accompanied by a decrease in turbidity is noted in rats following acute stress. The serum lysozyme and turbidity levels in endocrine-deficient rats and the effects of paramethasone have been compared.