Systemic Corticosteroids for Autoimmune/Inflammatory Disorders in Children: Introduction

Abstract

More than six decades have elapsed since the introduction of corticosteroids into the pharmacologic armamentarium of pediatricians. Despite the widespread clinical use of these agents for many years, several questions remain concerning their appropriate therapeutic role, indications, possible regimens, and adverse effects. The discovery of corticosteroids can be considered one of the most important therapeutic revolutions of the last century. Steroids became crucial for the treatment of several inflammatory and rheumatic diseases, including diseases that occur during childhood. However, the great enthusiasm over the discovery of corticosteroids was hampered in later years by the identification of important side effects that raised concerns regarding steroid therapy. Thus, in the past years, research focused on the development of new steroid compounds with lower toxicity and higher efficacy as well as on novel therapeutic regimens. Now, 60 years later, treatment with corticosteroids has stood the test of time, and despite the well-known side effects they are still a keystone in the therapy of many disorders and can sometimes be life-saving.