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Glucocorticoid therapy for rheumatic diseases.
1Cornell University Medical College, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, New York.
Current Opinion in Rheumatology
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Glucocorticoids are vital for inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Ongoing research clarifies their mechanisms and clinical use, emphasizing the need for careful physician judgment.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Glucocorticoids are widely used for inflammatory, autoimmune, and rheumatic diseases due to their potency.
- Steroid treatment literature has historically been anecdotal, despite widespread clinical application.
- Advances in understanding steroid-receptor interactions and gene regulation are emerging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on glucocorticoid mechanisms of action.
- To discuss refined clinical applications based on new evidence.
- To underscore the importance of clinical judgment in glucocorticoid therapy.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent studies on glucocorticoid mechanisms.
- Analysis of clinical trial data for refined therapeutic applications.
- Synthesis of information on steroid-receptor engagement and gene regulation.
Main Results:
- New information on glucocorticoid mechanisms of action is continually becoming available.
- Carefully designed clinical studies are refining the application of glucocorticoids.
- The complex biology of steroid-receptor engagement and gene regulation is being elucidated.
Conclusions:
- Glucocorticoid therapy requires ongoing research to fully understand mechanisms and optimize use.
- Clinical application is improving with new scientific insights and study designs.
- Judicious clinical observation and sound judgment remain paramount for effective glucocorticoid management.