Characteristics of included studies
| . | Number of studies (%) . | Number of patients (%) . |
|---|---|---|
| All trials | 16 | 12 513 |
| Years the study opened | ||
| 1965-1979 | 8 (50.0) | 1540 (12.3) |
| 1980-1994 | 2 (12.5) | 932 (7.4) |
| 1995-2009 | 4 (25.0) | 4151 (33.2) |
| 2010-present | 2 (12.5) | 5890 (47.1) |
| Era of therapy | ||
| Historical | 10 (62.5) | 2383 (19.0) |
| Contemporary | 6 (37.5) | 10 130 (81.0) |
| Geographic region | ||
| North America | 6 (37.5) | 4869 (38.9) |
| Europe and Russia | 7 (43.8) | 4627 (37.0) |
| Latin America | 2 (12.5) | 94 (0.8) |
| Asia | 1 (0.6) | 2923 (23.4) |
| Steroid used | ||
| Dexamethasone | 6 (37.5) | 9831 (78.6) |
| Prednisone∗ | 11 (68.8) | 2682 (21.4) |
| VCR doses per pulse | ||
| 1 | 10 (62.5) | 11 896 (95.1) |
| 2 | 2 (12.5) | 94 (0.8) |
| 3 or 4 | 4 (25.0) | 523 (4.2) |
| Duration of pulse | ||
| 5 to 7 d | 9 (56.3) | 11 749 (93.9) |
| 14 to 15 d | 5 (31.3) | 534 (4.3) |
| 28 d | 2 (12.5) | 230 (1.8) |
| Randomization | ||
| Every 4 to 14 wk vs none | 12 (75.0) | 5789 (46.3) |
| Stopping vs continuing beyond 1 y | 2 (12.5) | 2955 (23.6) |
| Higher vs lower frequency | 2 (12.5) | 3769 (30.1) |
| . | Number of studies (%) . | Number of patients (%) . |
|---|---|---|
| All trials | 16 | 12 513 |
| Years the study opened | ||
| 1965-1979 | 8 (50.0) | 1540 (12.3) |
| 1980-1994 | 2 (12.5) | 932 (7.4) |
| 1995-2009 | 4 (25.0) | 4151 (33.2) |
| 2010-present | 2 (12.5) | 5890 (47.1) |
| Era of therapy | ||
| Historical | 10 (62.5) | 2383 (19.0) |
| Contemporary | 6 (37.5) | 10 130 (81.0) |
| Geographic region | ||
| North America | 6 (37.5) | 4869 (38.9) |
| Europe and Russia | 7 (43.8) | 4627 (37.0) |
| Latin America | 2 (12.5) | 94 (0.8) |
| Asia | 1 (0.6) | 2923 (23.4) |
| Steroid used | ||
| Dexamethasone | 6 (37.5) | 9831 (78.6) |
| Prednisone∗ | 11 (68.8) | 2682 (21.4) |
| VCR doses per pulse | ||
| 1 | 10 (62.5) | 11 896 (95.1) |
| 2 | 2 (12.5) | 94 (0.8) |
| 3 or 4 | 4 (25.0) | 523 (4.2) |
| Duration of pulse | ||
| 5 to 7 d | 9 (56.3) | 11 749 (93.9) |
| 14 to 15 d | 5 (31.3) | 534 (4.3) |
| 28 d | 2 (12.5) | 230 (1.8) |
| Randomization | ||
| Every 4 to 14 wk vs none | 12 (75.0) | 5789 (46.3) |
| Stopping vs continuing beyond 1 y | 2 (12.5) | 2955 (23.6) |
| Higher vs lower frequency | 2 (12.5) | 3769 (30.1) |
Includes prednisone, prednisolone, and methylprednisolone.