Corticosteroid therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Benefits and limitations.

Oral corticosteroids, despite their potential side effects, have a select role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. For articular disease, these drugs must be targeted to short-term goals, such as symptom relief. Close attention to the indications and potential hazards of steroid therapy may ensure optimal benefit and reduced risk. Intra-articular steroid injections can provide local symptomatic relief when only one or a few joints are swollen. Septic arthritis is most important to exclude before injection of a joint. Complications of intra-articular injection are few, and relief may be long-lasting.