Benefits and risks of glucocorticoid therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis

Abstract

More than 50 years have passed since glucocorticoid (GC) therapy was introduced into the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . Although the effect of GC monotherapy on RA is limited to short-term and long-term GC treatment carries the risks of adverse effects and rebound phenomenon after the discontinuation, disease-modifying action of GC have been recently reported when used in combination with DMARDs. One of the important side effects associated with GC therapy is osteoporosis, and Japanese guidelines on the management and treatment of glucocorticoid -induced osteoporosis have been published recently. Further studies are necessary to elucidate long-term benefit-risk ratio of low-dose GC therapy on RA.