Prednisolone in the management of patients with Crohn's disease.

Glucocorticoids, a type of steroid hormone, are widely used in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Many patients with these conditions are managed conservatively outside hospital, with continued support from their gastroenterologist and occasional glucocorticoid medication. However, glucocorticoids are not a long-term solution for anyone with IBD, since they carry many unwanted side-effects, and can damage body parts and function years after ingestion, particularly if the dose was high and for longer than 6 months. In the short-term, glucocorticoids can produce some very impressive results, but patients need to know the facts about them and what they should and could expect from taking this medication. This article gives an outline of one of these drugs--prednisolone--what it is used for, and the side-effects that may arise.