Oral glucocorticoids : Therapeutic use and treatment monitoring in inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Glucocorticoids (GC) have been proven drug substances in rheumatology for more than 70years. They act very rapidly in high doses through membrane stabilizing effects. Genomic therapeutic effects of GC even in very low doses are mainly due to inhibition of the functions of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NFkB), which promotes the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators, adhesion molecules and other regulatory proteins. Indications for the use of GC in high doses in rheumatology are always given when alife-threatening, dangerous or treatment-resistant situation is involved. Lower doses of GC, usually administered orally, are particularly used in rheumatoid arthritis, vasculitis and collagenosis. In clinical practice the general principle is to use the smallest possible effective dose of GC for the shortest possible time in order to achieve the therapeutic effect of GC without running the risk of unacceptably severe side effects.