International Consensus Guidance for the Management of Glucocorticoid Related Complications in Neuromuscular Disease

Glucocorticoid (GC)-related adverse reactions and risks are commonly seen during the treatment of immune-mediated and inflammatory neuromuscular disorders. There is wide variation in the management of associated complications. The aim of this study is to develop international consensus guidance on the management of GC-related complications in neuromuscular disorders.

Through the American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM), an international task force of 15 experts was convened to develop clinical guidance for the management of GC-related complications in neuromuscular patients. The RAND/UCLA appropriateness method (RAM) was used to develop consensus guidance statements. Initial guidance statements were crafted after a thorough literature review and were modified after anonymous panel input, with up to three rounds of voting via email to achieve consensus.

Statements were developed and achieved consensus for general care, monitoring of patients while on GC, osteoporosis prevention, vaccinations, infection screening, and Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia prophylaxis. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of GC-related complications was emphasized.

These formal consensus statements provide guidance to clinicians who use GC in the treatment of neuromuscular diseases regarding prevention and management of the more common associated adverse events and risks that arise with long and short-term GC use and serve as a springboard for investigation and updates.