[Ulcerogenic potential of corticoids in man: a reality or methodologic artifact?]

It is generally accepted that glucocorticoids are ulcerogenic. The different pharmacological, biological and clinical arguments on which this opinion is founded are reviewed. It is concluded that, particularly in pneumology, none of them is sufficiently sound to justify the prophylactic measures generally systematically used. In fact it appears that glucocorticoids are not primary offenders by rather potentiate ulcerogenesis. Prophylactic measures are therefore indicated only in ulcerogenic conditions such as association with non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents or in some pathological situations such as rheumatoid arthritis and severe cirrhosis. These conditions are generally not encountered in pneumology and therefore the ulcerogenic risk in this case can be considered as non existent.