- See:
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Steroids
- Discussion:
- corticosteroids may occassionally be used to alleviate intractable joint inflammation or vasculitis in RA;
- however, there is a risk of iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome;
- intraarticular instillation of steroids is useful in management of disease that is worst in a single joint;
- repeated injections increase the risk of articular cartilage damage from catabolic effects of local steroids;
- Dosage:
- daily doses of > 5-7.5 mg of prednisone or its equivalent should be avoided because of side effects produced by glucocorticoids, especially diminishing of bone mineral content;
- low dose (5 to 7.5 mg per day given as a single dose) may benefit certain patients with little risk of morbidity;
- Musculoskeletal Effects of Chronic Steroid Usage
Pulse steroid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: can equivalent doses of oral prednisolone give similar clinical results to intravenous methylprednisolone