Steroid sparing therapeutic approaches to polymyalgia rheumatica-giant cell arteritis. State of the art and perspectives.
The therapeutic approach to polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and giant cell arteritis (GCA) remains mainly based on corticosteroids. A few studies in PMR suggest a steroid-sparing effect with methotrexate in a subset of patients. No real alternative to steroids exists in GCA. Given the high chance of long-term treatment with corticosteroids in both diseases, randomized controlled trials with new immunosuppressive steroid-sparing drugs are eagerly awaited.
Ferraccioli
G F
GF
Division and Chair of Rheumatology, DPMSC, University of Udine, Italy. gianfranco.ferraccioli@dpmsc.uniud.it
Di Poi
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E
Damato
R
R
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate