LONG-TERM TREATMENT OF POLYMYALGIA-RHEUMATICA WITH DEFLAZACORT

Objectives-To evaluate the long term efficacy and tolerability of defl azacort, a corticosteroid reputed to have only minor side effects, in the treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Methods-In a prospectiv e open study, deflazacort was administered at an average initial dose of 21.8 mg/day for a mean period of 19 months in 40 patients with PMR. Results-A highly significant improvement of clinical and laboratory p arameters occurred one month after therapy onset. This improvement per sisted for the whole study period. Laboratory parameters of tolerabili ty did not change during the study. Mild to moderate steroid-related s ide effects occurred in 57.9% of the patients. Conclusions-Deflazacort is effective in the treatment of PMR. its long term safety profile ma y be superior to that of other corticosteroids.