[Glucocorticoid treatment improves glucose tolerance in patients with temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica].
BACKGROUND
Corticosteroid therapy has been shown to improve glucose tolerance in some connective tissue diseases. This fact has been inadequately investigated in vasculitis.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of glucocorticoid therapy on glucose tolerance in patients with temporal arteritis (TA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PR).


METHODS
An oral test with glucose overload (OGO) was performed before and after one month of initiating therapy with corticosteroids in 14 patients with TA or PR (TA/PR group) and in nine patients with other chronic inflammatory diseases (control group).


RESULTS
After treatment, patients with TA/PR experienced a decrease in the area under the glucose curve and in serum glucose values at minutes 0, 90, and 120 of the OGTT. Also, a decrease was observed for the area under the insulin curve and for plasma insulin levels at minutes 90 and 120 after OGO.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapy with corticosteroids improves glucose tolerance in TA/PR with no increase in insulin secretion.
Sáez Barcelona
J A
JA
Hospital General de Albacete.
Carmona Martín
M
M
Navarro López
V
V
Blanch Sancho
J J
JJ
Puras Tellaeche
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin
El tratamiento con glucocorticoides mejora la tolerancia a la glucosa en pacientes con arteritis de la temporal o polimialgia reumática.