Corticosteroids in Lupus

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2016 Feb;42(1):47-62, viii. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2015.08.007.

Abstract

Corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, with most patients receiving them at some point in the course of their disease. Corticosteroid use is associated with significant side effects, including infections, hypertension, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, avascular necrosis, myopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Dosing regimens are based on limited data, with the goal of adequately controlling inflammatory symptoms while minimizing steroid exposure in order to reduce adverse effects.

Keywords: Corticosteroids; Glucocorticoids; Methylprednisolone; Prednisone; Systemic lupus erythematosus.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / therapy
  • Cataract / chemically induced
  • Comorbidity
  • Diabetes Mellitus / chemically induced
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy
  • Glaucoma / chemically induced
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Infections / chemically induced
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / drug therapy*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / epidemiology
  • Muscular Diseases / chemically induced
  • Osteonecrosis / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis / chemically induced
  • Osteoporosis / epidemiology
  • Osteoporosis / therapy
  • Peptic Ulcer / chemically induced
  • Peptic Ulcer / epidemiology
  • Peptic Ulcer / therapy

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Glucocorticoids