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| DRUG REVIEW |
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| Year : 2009 | Volume
: 55
| Issue : 4 | Page : 296-300 |
Deflazacort
N Joshi, K Rajeshwari
Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi - 110 002, India
Correspondence Address:
N Joshi
Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi - 110 002
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0022-3859.58942
Conventional oral steroids like prednisolone have various adverse effects both during short-term and long-term use. Hence a search for an alternative oral steroid with fewer side-effects is underway throughout the world. Deflazacort, an oxazoline derivative, is a step in this direction. The number of large randomized trials using deflazacort for steroid-responsive disorders in children is limited. Use of deflazacort has been explored largely in patients with Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. Preliminary data suggest reduced osteoporosis, lesser growth retardation and weight gain with use of deflazacort, as compared to other steriods. In view of the limited data demonstrating superiority of deflazacort over the available oral steroids and its prohibitive cost, it is early to advocate widespread use of this drug in children.
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