Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the trends in glucocorticoid (GC) therapy in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).
METHODS: Using a population-based inception cohort, GC therapy details were collected for all patients with GCA diagnosed between 1950-2009. GC usage for patients diagnosed with GCA between 1980-2009 was compared to those diagnosed between 1950-1979.
RESULTS: The mean starting dose was similar in both time-periods but the mean cumulative dosages at different time points were significantly higher for patients diagnosed between 1980-2009 than in 1950-1979 (at 1-year: 6.3 vs. 4.1g; and at 5 years 10.7 vs. 7.6g, respectively, p<0.001). The median time to permanent discontinuation of GC was 2.6 years for 1980-2009 vs. 1.5 years for 1950-1979 (p=0.004). The risk for GC-associated adverse events was similar in both time periods (p=0.52).
CONCLUSIONS: GCA patients diagnosed in the last three decades were treated with higher cumulative GC doses and were less likely to achieve GC discontinuation. However, their risks for GC-related complications were not significantly higher than their earlier counterparts.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | S-98-102 |
Journal | Clinical and experimental rheumatology |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - Mar 1 2015 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rheumatology
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology