Abstract
We performed a prospective study to clarify the incidence and characteristics of steroid myopathy. Of 52 patients who entered this study, 18 developed steroid myopathy (34.6%) and it occurred 30.1±13.5 (mean±SD) days after the start of corticosteroid therapy. The dose of prednisolone in the steroid myopathy group was higher than in the non steroid myopathy group (50.0 vs. 44.4mg/day, p<0.05). The incidence of steroid myopathy correlated significantly with corticosteroid dosage. Weight loss in the steroid myopathy group was more marked than in the non steroid myopathy group (-4.3 vs. -2.0kg, p<0.001). After starting therapy, no significant differences were exhibited between the steroid myopathy and non steroid myopathy groups in LDH and percent creatinuria levels. The serum cholinesterase level in the steroid myopathy group was significantly reduced. It appears that weight loss and a decreased cholinesterase level may be useful in the screening and diagnosis of steroid myopathy.
