Glucocorticoid safety for treating rheumatoid arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Glucocorticoids (GCs) are often used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and many other inflammatory diseases. Besides strong favorable effects on disease activity, GCs can cause (serious) side effects as well. AREAS COVERED: Side effects of GCs that are ranked as most important by rheumatologists as well as by patients are bone loss and fractures, cardiovascular events, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. In evaluating these side effects, confounding by indication is a disturbing factor: not only the use of GCs can increase the risk of several side effects, but so can the activity of the underlying disease, which in turn is related to the amount of GCs that is prescribed to the patient. EXPERT OPINION: Generally, side effects predominantly occur in patients with a high disease activity and when used in high doses and for a long period of time. For these patients, caution and monitoring are most warranted. However, monitoring is not only recommended in patients with a high disease activity, and high-dose or long-term use of GCs, but in all GC users, since side effects may also occur in patients treated with low-dose GCs. When detecting possible negative effects in time, they might be managed and serious damage due to side effects might hopefully be prevented.