New role for an old friend: prednisone is a disease-modifying agent in early rheumatoid arthritis.
There has been a renewed interest in the use of low doses of prednisone in the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis. This is because it has been conclusively shown that low doses of prednisone retard bone damage, and physicians use prednisone because it helps control tender and swollen joints. Two studies appeared in 2002, one by van Everdingen et al. and one by Landewe et al. demonstrating the reduction of bone damage in early RA with the use of prednisone. Van Everdingen used 10 mg/day of prednisone and Landewe used an initial high dose of 60 mg/day of prednisone for a week, tapering off by 6 months. The bone sparing effect was still evident at 5 years. Low doses of prednisone are well tolerated, with documented side effects including weight gain, ecchymosis, and osteopenia.
Conn
Doyt L
DL
Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA. dconn@emory.edu
Lim
S Sam
SS
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012380:Role; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D011241:Prednisone