1. invasive mechanical ventilation; 2. presence of shock or concomitant organ failure that requires admission to the intensive care unit; 3. pregnancy or breastfeeding; 4. severe heart or kidney failure; 5. known hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone, to dexamethasone or to an exception; 6. diabetes not compensated according to the doctor's judgment; 7. other clinical conditions that contraindicate methylprednisolone and cannot be treated or resolved according to the doctor's judgment; 8. steroid bolus therapy in the week prior to enrollment for the study; 9. enrollment in another clinical trial; 10. patient already randomized in this study-

1. invasive mechanical ventilation; 2. presence of shock or concomitant organ failure that requires admission to the intensive care unit; 3. pregnancy or breastfeeding; 4. severe heart or kidney failure; 5. known hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone, to dexamethasone or to an exception; 6. diabetes not compensated according to the doctor's judgment; 7. other clinical conditions that contraindicate methylprednisolone and cannot be treated or resolved according to the doctor's judgment; 8. steroid bolus therapy in the week prior to enrollment for the study; 9. enrollment in another clinical trial; 10. patient already randomized in this study-

invasive mechanical ventilation; presence of shock or concomitant organ failure that requires admission to the intensive care unit; pregnancy or breastfeeding; severe heart or kidney failure; known hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone, to dexamethasone or to an exception; diabetes not compensated according to the doctor's judgment; other clinical conditions that contraindicate methylprednisolone and cannot be treated or resolved according to the doctor's judgment; steroid bolus therapy in the week prior to enrollment for the study; enrollment in another clinical trial; patient already randomized in this study-

invasive mechanical ventilation; presence of shock or concomitant organ failure that requires admission to the intensive care unit; pregnancy or breastfeeding; severe heart or kidney failure; known hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone, to dexamethasone or to an exception; diabetes not compensated according to the doctor's judgment; other clinical conditions that contraindicate methylprednisolone and cannot be treated or resolved according to the doctor's judgment; steroid bolus therapy in the week prior to enrollment for the study; enrollment in another clinical trial; patient already randomized in this study-

1. invasive mechanical ventilation; 2. presence of shock or concomitant organ failure that requires admission to the intensive care unit; 3. pregnancy or breastfeeding; 4. severe heart or kidney failure; 5. known hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone, to dexamethasone or to an exception; 6. diabetes not compensated according to the doctor's judgment; 7. other clinical conditions that contraindicate methylprednisolone and cannot be treated or resolved according to the doctor's judgment; 8. steroid bolus therapy in the week prior to enrollment for the study; 9. enrollment in another clinical trial; 10. patient already randomized in this study-

1. invasive mechanical ventilation; 2. presence of shock or concomitant organ failure that requires admission to the intensive care unit; 3. pregnancy or breastfeeding; 4. severe heart or kidney failure; 5. known hypersensitivity to methylprednisolone, to dexamethasone or to an exception; 6. diabetes not compensated according to the doctor's judgment; 7. other clinical conditions that contraindicate methylprednisolone and cannot be treated or resolved according to the doctor's judgment; 8. steroid bolus therapy in the week prior to enrollment for the study; 9. enrollment in another clinical trial; 10. patient already randomized in this study-