Researchers at Charite University Hospital found that low-dose steroid use was not associated with significant weight or blood pressure gains in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Analysis published Internal Medicine Annuals.
Steroid hormones glucocorticoids are frequently used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Weight gain and hypertension are well-known side effects of high-dose glucocorticoid therapy.
In the new study, researchers analyzed five high-quality clinical trials of low-dose glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis. The patients were followed for two years.
Researchers found that taking low doses of glucocorticoids was associated with a weight gain of 1.1 kg. There was no significant difference in blood pressure between people who took hormones and those who did not.
The two-year trial period does not fully assess the effects of weight gain and pressure because these effects can take decades to manifest. However, the results provide the best estimate to date of the possible side effects of low-dose steroids. The study will be useful to physicians and patients who make decisions about the relative risks and benefits of glucocorticoids.
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