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Glucocorticoids in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Author(s) -
BIJLSMA JOHANNES W.J.,
EVERDINGEN AMALIA A.,
HUISMAN MARGRIET,
NIJS RON N.J.T.L.,
JACOBS JOHANNES W.G.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04205.x
Subject(s) - rheumatoid arthritis , glucocorticoid , medicine , placebo , arthritis , prospective cohort study , disease , pathology , alternative medicine
A bstract : Recently, four prospective placebo‐controlled studies have further evaluated the disease‐modifying properties of glucocorticoids in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. These studies irrefutably show that the use of (low) doses of glucocorticoids leads to a significant retardation of the progression of erosions, especially in early rheumatoid arthritis. This effect on erosions seems more impressive and probably more persistent than the well‐known relief during low‐dose glucocorticoid therapy of symptoms, such as pain, stiffness, and joint scores. The management of the (side) effects of glucocorticoids on bone has clearly improved in the last years. These two developments lead to a further optimizing of glucocorticoid treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.