Risk of adrenal insufficiency in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica versus patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) are more susceptible to glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency, one of the barriers to glucocorticoid tapering strategies, compared to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study included PMR and RA patients who underwent adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) tests to assess adrenal function. The eligibility criteria were as follows: previous use of prednisolone (PSL) ≥ 5 mg/day, use of PSL for six consecutive months before ACTH test, and current use of PSL at 5 mg/day or less. The association between disease type (PMR vs. RA) and insufficient adrenal response was assessed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS:

Twenty-six of 34 (76.5%) patients with PMR and 13 of 37 (35.1%) patients with RA had insufficient adrenal response. Compared to patients with RA, patients with PMR were more likely to have insufficient adrenal response, even after adjusting for age, sex, and PSL dose (adjusted odds ratio, 6.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.78-25.60).

CONCLUSION:

Patients with PMR have a higher risk of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency than patients with RA. Assessing the adrenal function in patients with PMR will contribute to establishing a more appropriate glucocorticoid reduction strategy.

• Authors: Akiko Kasahara, Takashi Kida, Aiko Hirano, Satoshi Omura, Hideaki Sofue, Aki Sakashita, Tomoya Sagawa, Mai Asano, Michiaki Fukui, Makoto Wada, Masataka Kohno, Yutaka Kawahito
• Journal: Modern rheumatology (Mod Rheumatol) Vol. 32 Issue 5 Pg. 891-898 (Aug 20 2022) ISSN: 1439-7609 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 35041750 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © Japan College of Rheumatology 2022. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
• Prednisolone

Topics

• Adrenal Insufficiency (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (analysis)
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (complications, drug therapy)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Giant Cell Arteritis (complications)
• Glucocorticoids (adverse effects)
• Humans
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica (complications, drug therapy)
• Prednisolone (adverse effects)