title: [Disease-modifying effects of glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Drugs used for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are designated disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) if they reduce inflammation and pain, limit joint destruction, and improve long-term disease outcome. Glucocorticoids have long been known to have anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, and pain-reducing effects. Moreover, they have been shown in recent clinical trials, and also very recently in a systemic analysis of the results of these studies, to contribute to inhibition of the radiographic progression of RA. For these reasons, glucocorticoids can be considered DMARDs if they are used to treat patients suffering from early RA and, according to the current knowledge, are used in combination with other DMARDs.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie, Charité Campus Mitte, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Deutschland. frank.buttgereit@charite.de
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buttgereit
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burmester
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Bijlsma
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids