EXTENDED REPORT

Standardised nomenclature for glucocorticoid dosages and glucocorticoid treatment regimens: current questions and tentative answers in rheumatology

F Buttgereit¹, J A P Da Silva², M Boers³, G-R Burmester¹, M Cutolo⁴, J Jacobs⁵, J Kirwan⁶, L Köhler⁷, P van Riel⁸, T Vischer⁹, J W J Bijlsma⁵

¹ Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany
² Department of Rheumatology, Coimbra University, Portugal
³ Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
⁴ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
⁵ Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
⁶ Rheumatology Unit, Division of Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
⁷ Division of Rheumatology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover, Germany
⁸ Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
⁹ Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr F Buttgereit, Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité University Hospital, Schumannstrasse 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany;
frank.buttgereit{at}charite.de

In rheumatology and other medical specialties there is a discrepancy between the widespread use and the imprecise designation of glucocorticoid treatment regimens. Verbal descriptions of glucocorticoid treatment regimens used in various phases of diseases vary between countries and institutions. Given this background, a workshop under the auspices of the EULAR Standing Committee on International Clinical Studies including Therapeutic Trials was held to discuss this issue and to seek a consensus on nomenclature for glucocorticoid treatment. This report summarises the panel's discussion and recognises that answers derived from consensus conferences are not definitive. Nevertheless, recommendations on glucocorticoid treatment are presented that (1) reflect current and best knowledge available and (2) take into account current clinical practice. A question-answer rationale presentation style has been chosen to convey the messages, to summarise the meeting in a readable format, and to avoid dogmatism.

Keywords: nomenclature; glucocorticoid treatments

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