Background and objectives: The efficacy of glucocorticoids (GCs) in treating systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is beyond doubt. However, GCs-related adverse effects (AEs) are multiple and serious. Despite the current available evidence suggesting to reduce daily doses of prednisone <7.5 mg/day, or even to withdraw it, in the real-life practice, it is not uncommon to see patients receiving medium doses (up to 30 mg/day prednisone or equivalent) or high doses (≥30 mg/day).
Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature with a priori strategy, to assess the rate of AEs related to medium or high doses of GCs in patients with SLE, analyzing randomized control trials with at least one of the treatment groups including GCs alone at medium or high doses.
Results: We found a rate of 9/100 patients/year for hyperglycemias/diabetes, 25/100 patients/year for infections, and 12/100 patients/year for avascular necrosis of the hip. Interestingly, when adjusting for GC dose and treatment duration, we observed no difference in terms of AEs comparing patients receiving medium versus high doses.
Conclusions: In the era when treat-to-target strategies have been proposed in order to control SLE disease activity, improved health-related quality of life, and reduced morbidity and mortality, using GCs in a more restrictive way should be a goal to prevent major complications in patients with SLE.