Intravenous Versus Oral Administration of Prednisolone in Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2003-08-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Treatment with systemic corticosteroids for acute exacerbations of COPD results in the
improvement of clinical outcomes. The optimal route of administration has not been rigorously
studied in COPD. Upon hospitalization, corticosteroids are administered intravenously in many
hospitals. Oral administration is more convenient, though, because there is no need for
intravenous access, less personnel is required for starting and monitoring therapy, and
material costs are smaller.
The investigators hypothesized that oral administration is not inferior to intravenous
administration of prednisolone in the treatment of patients hospitalized for an acute
exacerbation of COPD.