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Rheumatoid arthritis

Glucocorticoid therapy and body composition

Glucocorticoids are cost-effective drugs that exert strong anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. However, there is increasing awareness of their potential adverse effects. Although Cushingoid appearance and weight gain have been known for decades, modern measurements of body composition now enable detailed insights into glucocorticoid-induced changes in fat mass and redistribution.

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Figure 1: The two-compartment model of body composition.

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Correspondence to Frank Buttgereit.

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Buttgereit, F., Burmester, G. Glucocorticoid therapy and body composition. Nat Rev Rheumatol 12, 444–445 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrrheum.2016.114

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