Systemic corticosteroids in rheumatoid arthritis: to use or not to use?

Systemic corticosteroids(steroids) were initially introduced after the dramatic efficacy in individual patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Since the outcome of steroid therapy in RA turned to be awesome, steroids had been put at the apex of the therapeutic pyramid for a long time. However, most...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNihon rinshō Vol. 60; no. 12; p. 2364
Main Author Amano, Koichi
Format Journal Article
LanguageJapanese
Published Japan 01.12.2002
Subjects
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - adverse effects
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use
Antirheumatic Agents - adverse effects
Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - drug therapy
Humans
Quality of Life
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Summary:Systemic corticosteroids(steroids) were initially introduced after the dramatic efficacy in individual patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Since the outcome of steroid therapy in RA turned to be awesome, steroids had been put at the apex of the therapeutic pyramid for a long time. However, most rheumatologists have subscribed steroids for the treatment of early active RA because they can provide rapid and significant clinical response. Moreover, recent several studies have shown that low dose(5 to 10 mg/day) of prednisolone retard joint destruction in a few years. However, the demonstrated negatives(opportunistic infections, osteoporosis, metabolic disorders, atherosclerotic vascular events etc.) of steroids may outweigh these advantages in the longterm clinical course of RA.
ISSN:0047-1852