title: Intraocular pressure in chronic users of low-dose oral corticosteroids for connective tissue disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of patients with connective tissue disease (CTD) on low-dose chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy and compare with control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional comparative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 86 patients with CTD were grouped according to corticosteroid therapy. Group 1 (n = 27) was composed of patients with CTD receiving low-dose systemic corticosteroid therapy (<10 mg prednisone or its equivalent oral corticosteroid) for at least 6 months, and group 2 (n = 59) included patients with CTD without use of corticosteroid therapy. Group 3 (n = 20) was composed of healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients underwent a complete ophthalmic evaluation by an experienced investigator and had their clinical records reviewed by another independent investigator. IOP was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all 3 groups, the IOPs were within the normal range. The mean IOP was 13.1 ± 2.7 mm Hg (range 8-19 mm Hg) in the CTD corticosteroid group (group 1), 13.7 ± 2.7 mm Hg (range 9-22 mm Hg) in CTD group without corticosteroid therapy (group 2), and 13.1 ± 1.6 mm Hg (range 10-16 mm Hg) in the control group (group 3). No significant differences in IOP were observed among the 3 groups (p = 0.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients under chronic treatment with low-dose systemic corticosteroid therapy for CTD presented with IOP within the normal range, not clinically significant different from the IOP of patients with CTD without any steroid therapy or from healthy control subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Beatriz Fiuza
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Haroldo Vieira
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Moraes
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Newton
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kara-Junior
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário Newton L
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ.
authors.forename: Fernanda Bina
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Fonyat de Lima
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ; Department of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP. Electronic address: marconysanthiago@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Marcony R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Santhiago
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone