We establish pointwise a priori estimates for solutions in $D^{ 1,p}(\mathbb{ R}^n)$ of equations of type $-\Delta_pu=f(x,u)$, where $p\in(1,n)$, $\Delta_p:=\mbox{ div}\big(\left|\nabla u\right|^{ p-2}\nabla u\big)$ is the $p$-Laplace operator, and $f$ is a Caratheodory function with critical Sobolev growth. In the case of positive solutions, our estimates allow us to extend previous radial symmetry results. In particular, by combining our results and a result of Damascelli-Ramaswamy, we are able to extend a recent result of Damascelli-Merch\'an-Montoro-Sciunzi on the symmetry of positive solutions in $D^{ 1,p}(\mathbb{ R}^n)$ of the equation $-\Delta_pu=u^{ p^*-1}$, where $p^*:=np/(n-p)$.
Categories: math.AP