Muscle function in women with rheumatoid arthritis--the influence of glucocorticosteroids. A clinical and morphological investigation.

Abstract

Muscle impairment in particular, but also disability, has been evaluated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods used to evaluate impairment are dynamic muscle strength measurements and muscle morphological and enzymatic examinations. One group of patients had received low-dose prednisone for several years and one group had not received corticosteroids at all, but the groups were otherwise similar.