Adverse Outcomes Associated with Glucocorticoids in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

My PhD addresses the impact of glucocorticoid use in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus and other aspects of disease related morbidity. I was able to show that glucocorticoids contribute directly to harm in lupus that is independent of disease activity, including in a subset of patients with no measurable lupus disease activity. Metabolic syndrome and sarcopenia were not found to be significantly associated with glucocorticoid use, however they were highly prevalent and likely contribute to the increased morbidity of lupus patients. My findings suggest that unnecessary use of glucocorticoids should be avoided in the management of lupus.