When are steroids given?

Steroids are used to treat many conditions in which the body’s defense system doesn’t work properly and causes tissue damage. Steroids may be the main therapy for certain diseases. For other conditions, steroids might only be used sparingly or when other measures have not been successful.

Steroids are used in the treatment for certain rheumatologic inflammatory conditions, such as:

• Systemic vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels).
• Myositis (inflammation of muscle).
• Rheumatoid arthritis (chronic inflammatory arthritis).
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (a generalized disease caused by abnormal immune system function).