Historical Use of Intramuscular Steroids for Minimal Change Disease in the 1960s
The provided evidence does not contain any information about the use of intramuscular steroids for minimal change disease (MCD) in the 1960s, as all guidelines and research studies focus on allergic rhinitis, Crohn's disease, inflammatory myopathies, and other conditions unrelated to MCD treatment practices from that era.
What We Know About MCD Treatment History
Based on general medical knowledge, oral corticosteroids became the standard treatment for minimal change disease starting in the 1960s and early 1970s, but the evidence provided does not specifically address whether intramuscular administration was used during that decade.
Current Evidence on Steroid Administration Routes in MCD
Modern treatment of MCD relies exclusively on oral corticosteroids as first-line therapy, with no role for intramuscular administration in current practice 1, 2, 3.
Standard Oral Corticosteroid Regimens
- Adults with MCD receive oral prednisone at 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 80 mg/day) for extended periods, typically requiring 4 months of daily therapy before declaring steroid resistance 2, 3
- Response rates to oral steroids in adults range from 14-80% depending on the underlying lesion, with minimal change disease showing the most favorable response 2
- Adults respond more slowly than children and require longer treatment courses to achieve similar remission rates 2
Why Intramuscular Route Is Not Used
- Oral administration is equally effective and less invasive for conditions requiring prolonged steroid therapy 4
- The need for repeated dosing over weeks to months makes oral administration far more practical than intramuscular injections
- Current guidelines for other conditions explicitly recommend against intramuscular glucocorticosteroids due to serious potential side effects that may outweigh benefits 5
Historical Context Gap
The evidence base provided focuses on treatment practices from the 1990s onward, with the earliest MCD-specific reference from 1995 discussing steroid management without mentioning intramuscular routes 2. No historical documentation from the 1960s regarding MCD treatment practices is available in the provided evidence.