CORTICOSTEROIDS IN RHEUMATIC DISEASE - UNDERSTANDING THEIR EFFECTS ISKEY TO THEIR USE

Corticosteroids can have tremendous therapeutic benefits but can also cause severe side effects and toxicities. Judicious use of these agent s plays an important role in many rheumatic diseases, Careful selectio n of the initial dose, aggressive attempts to taper doses, prescriptio n of supplemental calcium and vitamin D, and consideration of steroid- sparing agents in patients who remain dependent on corticosteroids for disease control are the foundation of proper use. The roles oi cortic osteroids in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis are complex and remain, to some extent, controversial.