Observational studyJournal of neurology2021
Adjunctive steroids in adults with encephalitis: a propensity score analysis.
Observational study in Journal of neurology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 7 citations in OpenAlex.
- Steroids for the treatment of viral encephalitis: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.Journal of neurology · 2023Pooled it
- Clinical characteristics of varicella-zoster virus central nervous system infection in 108 unimmunocompromised patients.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- Metabolic Characterization of Cerebrospinal Fluid for Patients With Autoimmune Encephalitis: A Preliminary Study.CNS neuroscience & therapeutics · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveAdjuvant steroids have been used for the treatment of encephalitis, although there is limited data regarding its benefit. We described the use and impact of adjunctive steroids on adverse clinical outcomes (ACO) in adults with encephalitis.
methodsRetrospective observational study of 230 adults with encephalitis at two tertiary care hospital systems in Houston, Texas, between August 2008 and September 2017. An ACO was assessed at the time of death or discharge and defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale 1-4. A propensity score analysis was performed.
resultsOut of 230 adult encephalitis patients enrolled, 121 (52.6%) received steroids. Adjunctive steroids were given more frequently to those who had focal neurological deficits (P = 0.01), required mechanical ventilation (MV) (P = 0.01), had intensive care unit admission (P < 0.001), had white matter abnormalities (P = 0.01) or cerebral edema on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain (P = 0.003). An ACO was seen in 135 (58.7%) of patients. The use of adjunctive steroids did not impact ACOs (P = 0.52) on univariate analyses or after propensity score matching. Predictors for an ACO in logistic regression analyses included a Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) < 8, fever, MV, and cerebral edema.
interpretationAdjunctive steroids are used more frequently in sicker patients and are not associated with improved clinical outcomes.
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Registered trials
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