Chronic glucocorticoid management in neuromuscular disease : A survey of neuromuscular neurologists

© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC..

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: Glucocorticoids (GC) are first-line therapy for many neuromuscular diseases. There is a lack of guidelines regarding the prevention and management of GC complications in the context of neuromuscular disease, introducing the potential for practice variation, that may compromise quality of care. Our aim was to evaluate the practice patterns among Canadian adult neuromuscular neurologists on the screening, management, and treatment of GC-related complications and to identify variances in practice.

METHODS: A web-based anonymous questionnaire was disseminated to 99 Canadian adult neuromuscular neurologists. Questions addressed patterns of screening, prevention, monitoring, and treatment of GC-induced adverse events, including infection prophylaxis, vaccination, bone health, hyperglycemia, and other complications.

RESULTS: Seventy-one percent completed the survey. Of those, 52% perform screening blood work prior to initiating GC, 56% screen for infections, and 18% for osteoporosis. The majority monitor glycemic control and blood pressure (>85%). Thirty-two (46%) reported that they do not primarily monitor GC complications, but rather provide recommendations to the primary care physician. Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia prophylaxis was never used by 29%, and 29% recommend vaccinations prior to GC initiation. Calcium supplementation was recommended by 80% to prevent osteoporosis. Only 36% were aware of any existing guidelines for preventing GC complications, and 91% endorsed a need for neurology-specific guidelines.

DISCUSSION: There is substantial variability in the management of GC adverse effects among neuromuscular neurologists, often not corresponding to limited published literature. Our results support the need for improved education and neurology-specific guidelines to help standardize practice and improve and prevent complications.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - year:2024

Enthalten in:

Muscle & nerve - (2024) vom: 27. Feb.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Stepanian, Lora [VerfasserIn]
Laughlin, Ruple S [VerfasserIn]
Bacher, Corey [VerfasserIn]
Izenberg, Aaron [VerfasserIn]
Hodgkinson, Victoria [VerfasserIn]
Dyck, Adrienna [VerfasserIn]
Breiner, Ari [VerfasserIn]
Kassardjian, Charles D [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Glucocorticoids
Immunosuppression
Journal Article
Neuromuscular disorders
Prophylaxis

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 27.02.2024

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status Publisher

doi:

10.1002/mus.28069

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM369009894