Weight Gain, but No Increase in BP, Seen With Low-Dose Glucocorticoids in RA
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, Aug. 15, 2023 -- For patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), low-dose glucocorticoid treatment is associated with an modest increase in weight over two years but no increase in blood pressure, according to a study published online Aug. 15 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Andriko Palmowski, M.D., from Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and colleagues examined the effects of two years of low-dose glucocorticoid treatment in RA in a pooled analysis of five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from 12 countries in Europe. The intervention included glucocorticoid at 7.5 mg or less prednisone equivalent per day.
Data were included from 1,112 participants (mean age, 61.4 years). The researchers found that in two years, both groups gained weight, but on average, glucocorticoids led to 1.1 kg more weight gain than control treatment. In both groups, the mean arterial pressure increased by about 2 mm Hg, with a difference between groups of −0.4 mm Hg. In sensitivity and subgroup analysis, these results were consistent. Most patients did not alter the number of antihypertensive drugs and no evidence of between-group differences was seen.
"This pooled analysis of five RCTs in RA found that two years of low-dose glucocorticoid treatment leads to a modest weight gain of about 1 kg but has no effect on blood pressure," the authors write.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2023
Read this next
Rheumatology Workforce Increased 20 Percent From 2009 to 2019
THURSDAY, March 14, 2024 -- The overall number of clinically active rheumatology providers grew more than 20 percent during the last decade, according to a study published online...
Risk for Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Disease Increased After SARS-CoV-2
TUESDAY, March 5, 2024 -- Patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have an increased risk for incident autoimmune inflammatory...
Sinusitis Linked to Increased Risk for Subsequent Rheumatic Disease
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 28, 2024 -- A history of sinusitis is associated with an increased incidence of rheumatic disease, according to a study published online Feb. 27 in RMD...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.