HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

[Glucocorticoids: importance in the treatment of vasculitis].

Abstract
Only the modification of natural steroids in the middle of the last century gave insights into the structural requirements for the biological activity of the glucocorticoids (GC). While the delta-4,3-keto-11-beta, 17-alpha,21-trihydroxyl configuration is needed for the GC-activity, an artificial additional double binding in position 1 and 2 lead to a four fold increase of the GC-activity. Of the artificial GC, prednisolone is the most frequently used compound and essential in the therapy of vasculitis today. Dosage, duration and way of application depend on the diagnosis, disease stage, -extend as well as -activity. Considering the use and side-effects of the GC, experiences from cohort-studies of the late 80-ties help at clinical decision making. For giant cell arteritis (GCA) it was shown, that doses of less then 60 mg/day are needed for the induction of remission. Concerning the visual loss in GCA, time of initiating GC-therapy seems more important than the dosage. In the treatment of ANCA-associated vasculitis therapy with GC, later in combination with cyclophosphamide, lead to a significant reduction of mortality. Due to the fact of an increasing survival rate, therapy-related morbidity becomes a more and more important issue. There is a proven correlation between the dosage respectively duration of the GC-therapy and the risk of GC-associated side-effects, especially the incidence of severe infections. This article gives a short review of the present data of the role of GC in the treatment of vasculitis.
AuthorsP M Aries, B Hellmich, W L Gross
JournalZeitschrift fur Rheumatologie (Z Rheumatol) Vol. 64 Issue 3 Pg. 155-61 (Apr 2005) ISSN: 0340-1855 [Print] Germany
Vernacular TitleGlucocorticoide: Stellenwert in der Therapie der Vaskulitis.
PMID15868332 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)
Chemical References
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Glucocorticoids
Topics
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Glucocorticoids (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Humans
  • Osteoporosis (chemically induced, prevention & control)
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Risk Assessment (methods)
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasculitis (drug therapy)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: