Cortisone in Long-Term Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Three-Year Study

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Abstract
Summary An account is given of 148 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who received prolonged treatment with cortisone during the years 1953—56. The material consists mainly of patients who attended an out-patient clinic where the treatment was started, after which their own doctor took over the further course of treatment. The material consists of cases where other treatment, particularly with Sanocrysin, had failed, and the majority of patients were over 50 years of age, as well as being in the most affected stages III and IV. Long term treatment gave satisfactory results in 34 per cent, while cortisone treatment was stopped in 38 per cent on account of side effects, and 28 per cent became refractory to the treatment sooner or later. The mortality was the same as in conservative treatment. Only one of the deaths can be directly ascribed to cortisone, while cortisone was possibly a contributory factor in 3 deaths.