[Which adjuvant measures should be associated with long-term oral corticosteroid therapy in inflammatory diseases? A summary of existing French recommendations]

Abstract

It is common to initiate a long-term corticosteroid therapy for inflammatory diseases. Various specialists are involved in this prescription, and associated measures to prevent side effects are not consensual, with the exception of osteoporosis. The specialty of the prescriber has indeed a significant impact on the attention paid to the adjuvant associated measures. The aim of this review was to draw a summary of the side effects of long-term corticosteroid therapy and of the existing recommendations related to associated measures to prevent them. Unfortunately, it is difficult to give clear recommendations because of the lack of evidence in some fields, especially as they should be adapted to patient's age and comorbidities. We propose a summary table of associated measures to long-term steroid therapy prescription and suggest a monitoring frequency.

Keywords: Associated measures; Corticothérapie prolongée; Effets indésirables; Long-term steroid therapy; Mesures adjuvantes; Side effects.