High dose steroids increase the risk of mortality.
A pivotal study, led by Michael Boeckh at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has determined that occult infections contribute to 57% of all cases of “idiopathic” pneumonia syndrome (IPS), a condition previously assumed to be non-infectious. HHV-6 was the dominant pathogen representing 29% of cases. Steroid administration increased the risk of mortality from lung disease 6.8 fold. READ MORE.