The Effect of Prednisone on Atherogenesis as Studied in the Macrophage Foam Cell Formation Model System.

Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, low dose of Prednisone 20mg/d (n=10) and high dose of Prednisone 40 mg/d (n=10). During the experimental periods, the subjects will take either one or two 20mg tablet of Prednisone, according to their assigned group. Subjects will be instructed to take the tablets at home in the mornings after a meal each day for 5 consecutive days. At the baseline visit, a medical history will be documented and a physical examination will be performed. Subjects will be asked to come to the research unit on days 1,2,5 after a 14h fasting where two blood samples (5ml each) will be taken, immediately centrifuged, one for biochemical analysis (Lipid profile, Liver function tests, Glucose, Electrolytes and Renal function tests) and the second will be aliquoted, and stored at -20°C until later analyses.

Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, low dose of Prednisone 20mg/d (n=10) and high dose of Prednisone 40 mg/d (n=10). During the experimental periods, the subjects will take either one or two 20mg tablet of Prednisone, according to their assigned group. Subjects will be instructed to take the tablets at home in the mornings after a meal each day for 5 consecutive days. At the baseline visit, a medical history will be documented and a physical examination will be performed. Subjects will be asked to come to the research unit on days 1,2,5 after a 14h fasting where two blood samples (5ml each) will be taken, immediately centrifuged, one for biochemical analysis (Lipid profile, Liver function tests, Glucose, Electrolytes and Renal function tests) and the second will be aliquoted, and stored at -20°C until later analyses.