May Be of Interest

[Nuff1]

Corticosteroids and risk of gastrointestinal bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

I came across this when I had need to look for info on the matter re OH having some problems as well as his PMR/GCA and daughter plus her OH were anxious.

It's on the BMJ open website and also PubMed.

bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/5...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/248...

Quoting the conclusions (admittedly from 6 years and other trials since may have proved otherwise, but I haven't found any)

Conclusions

Corticosteroid use was associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation. The increased risk was statistically significant for hospitalised patients only. For patients in ambulatory care, the total occurrence of bleeding or perforation was very low, and the increased risk was not statistically significant.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think it may not be as relevant for us as for patients who are on steroids to control inflammation while hospitalised for serious illnesses/injuries. They do refer specifically to stress ulcers - and these can develop in response to injury without the patient being on steroids at all. The increased risk with steroids is generally felt to be due to the steroids suppressing the inflammation and pain associated with the ulceration so it is not registered by the patient and can reach an advanced stage, even perforating.

They do say very clearly it is applicable to patients in hospital - which does not usually apply to us. Oral steroids do not have this same risk.

[Hellyowl]

Thank you for this I am currently very anemic and GP is worried I am bleeding somewhere. Bowel bleeding and bowel cancer has been ruled out thank goodness. I was worried about steroids. Have more bloods and GP visit lined up and I have been concerned about steroids.