Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect more than just your joints. For some people, the condition can damage a wide variety of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels¹. An autoimmune disorder, rheumatoid arthritis occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own body's tissues¹.
The Role of Steroids in RA Treatment
Steroids, also known as glucocorticoids, are often used in the treatment of RA to reduce inflammation and slow the progression of the disease¹. However, long-term use of these drugs can lead to side effects such as weight gain and increased blood pressure¹.
New Findings on Low-Dose Steroids
A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has shed new light on the effects of low-dose steroids in RA patients¹. The study was conducted by Andriko Palmowski, M.D., from Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and colleagues¹. They 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 Europe¹.
The intervention included glucocorticoid at 7.5 mg or less prednisone equivalent per day¹. Data were included from 1,112 participants (mean age, 61.4 years)¹.
Results of the Study
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 treatment¹. In both groups, the mean arterial pressure increased by about 2 mm Hg, with a difference between groups of −0.4 mm Hg¹. In sensitivity and subgroup analysis, these results were consistent¹. Most patients did not alter the number of antihypertensive drugs and no evidence of between-group differences was seen¹.
Conclusion
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 pressure¹. This is an important finding as it suggests that low-dose steroids can be used in the management of RA without significantly impacting blood pressure levels. However, patients should be aware of the potential for slight weight gain.
References:
(1) Weight Gain, but No Increase in BP, Seen With Low-Dose Glucocorticoids .... https://consumer.healthday.com/physician-s-briefing-steroids-2663177045.html.
(2) Weight Gain, but No Increase in BP, Seen With Low-Dose Glucocorticoids .... https://www.drugs.com/news/weight-gain-but-no-increase-bp-seen-low-glucocorticoids-ra-114397.html.
(3) Rheumatoid Arthritis: Low-Dose Steroid Not Linked to Hypertension. https://www.healthline.com/health-news/low-dose-steroid-rheumatoid-arthritis-hypertension-weight-gain.
(4) Low dose steroid use not associated with substantial weight gain or .... https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-dose-steroid-substantial-weight-gain.html.
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