Moderate-Dose Prednisolone As an Effective Substitute for High-Dose Prednisolone in the Treatment of Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: A Retrospective Study Publisher



Omranipour R ; Mashoori N ; Alipour S ; Saberi A
Source: Acta Medica Iranica Published:2026

Abstract

Corticosteroids, generally prescribed at high doses, have been used with good results in the treatment of idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM). However, side effects of steroids are a serious concern, and prescribing lower doses sound safer if they provide similar efficacy. Thus, this study was performed to investigate the effect of moderate-dose versus high-dose prednisolone on IGM. Medical records of IGM patients were evaluated retrospectively. Patients who received prednisolone were classified as the moderate-dose group (MDG, <25 mg/day) and the high-dose group (HDG, ≥25 mg/day); their response and recurrence rates were compared. Among 108 patients, 82.5% in HDG and 85.3% in MDG responded to treatment (P=0.7). Total recurrence was 21.7% and 22% in HDG and MDG, respectively (P=0.984). Moderate doses of corticosteroids may be used to treat IGM patients without decreasing the treatment efficacy. Prospective randomized trials are necessary to further clarify this issue. © 2026 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.