Short-term and long-term safety of glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis.

Despite over 60 years of use, glucocorticoids continue to be a controversial therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This stems largely from their measured a well as their perceived toxicity. However, a paucity of top tier evidence from clinical trials or very carefully controlled observational studies leads to limited evidence supporting potential causal relations between low-dose glucocorticoids and adverse outcomes. Several new studies have contributed to an improved understanding of these associations and they are reviewed here along with highlights from the older body of literature examining these important outcomes.