[Glucocorticoid treatment improves glucose tolerance in patients with temporal arteritis or polymyalgia rheumatica].

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroid therapy has been shown to improve glucose tolerance in some connective tissue diseases. This fact has been inadequately investigated in vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of glucocorticoid therapy on glucose tolerance in patients with temporal arteritis (TA) or polymyalgia rheumatica (PR).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

An oral test with glucose overload (OGO) was performed before and after one month of initiating therapy with corticosteroids in 14 patients with TA or PR (TA/PR group) and in nine patients with other chronic inflammatory diseases (control group).

RESULTS

After treatment, patients with TA/PR experienced a decrease in the area under the glucose curve and in serum glucose values at minutes 0, 90, and 120 of the OGTT. Also, a decrease was observed for the area under the insulin curve and for plasma insulin levels at minutes 90 and 120 after OGO.

CONCLUSIONS

Therapy with corticosteroids improves glucose tolerance in TA/PR with no increase in insulin secretion.