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Adverse effects of corticosteroid therapy in neuromuscular diseased patients are common and receive insufficient prophylaxis
Author(s) -
McDougall D.,
Bhibhatbhan A.,
Toth C.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2009.01190.x
Subject(s) - medicine , adverse effect , corticosteroid , dosing , population , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , environmental health
Background – Corticosteroid therapy is known to have long‐term adverse effects and complications, but our knowledge of the adverse effects of corticosteroids within a neuromuscular patient population is limited. Aims of the study – We sought to determine the prevalence and impact of corticosteroid use in a population of patients with neuromuscular diseases, as well as possible clinical associations for presence of adverse effects. Methods – A retrospective chart review from a comprehensive database from a tertiary care neuromuscular clinic spanning 1988–2007 was performed. Results – Corticosteroids led to adverse effects in 74% of exposed patients, without proper prophylaxis considered in about 50% of cases. There were no associations determined to have impact upon adverse effect occurrence, including the exposure to cumulative corticosteroid dosing or diagnosis. Conclusion – Corticosteroid therapy is frequently associated with adverse effects, although prediction of their occurrence is not clear. Prophylaxis of their occurrence is underperformed in our tertiary care clinic patient population.