LAUSR

Since the beginning of the use of glucocorticoids in clinical medicine, the risk-benefit ratio of these still very important drugs has been debated. There is no doubt that they produce many desirable therapeutic effects quickly and reliably. However, their potential to cause adverse effects, especially with prolonged use in high doses, limits their applicability. We discuss the arguments against and in favor of maintenance therapy with low-dose glucocorticoids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and present recent studies, assessments and conclusions on this question.