RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: TOO HIGH A PRICE FOR CORTICOSTEROIDS

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic rheumatic systemic disease characterized by proliferative synovitis, with cartilage and bone destruction, affecting joint functions with serious effects on the patient‘s quality of life. Heterogenicity of the disease, complications and comorbidities are important in choosing the treatment. Corticosteroids as treatment of RA represent an important issue both through their positive effects on inflammation and its consequences and through their negative effects especially when used excessively. Complications due to excessive corticosteroid therapy such are infections, osteoporotic bone fractures and cataract represent a very high burden as our title suggests. Hence, the need for this presentation of a clinical case in order to illustrate the side effects of such a therapy as well as the choice of the best solution. The evolution of our patient‘s disease demonstrates that our approach is good and our results encourage us to continue in this way.

Keywords

• corticosteroids
• rheumatoid arthritis
• side effects