摘要:RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA) IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE THAT AFFECTS ESPECIALLY THE JOINTSBUT IT’S AUTOIMMUNE CHARACTER IS BEST SEEN IN ITS SYSTEMIC AFFECTION. PATIENTS WITH RAARE WELL KNOWN TO HAVE AN IMPORTANT RISK OF MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY FROMCARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD).NOWADAYS, GLUCOCORTICOIDS (GDS) ARE USED IN RHEUMATOLOGY AS “BRIDGE THERAPY” WHILEWAITING FOR ONSET OF ACTION OF DISEASE-MODIFYING ANTIRHEUMATIC DRUGS (DMARDS) , OR FORDISEASE FLARES 10. NUMEROUS STUDY SUGGEST THAT THE USE OF GCS ALONG WITH STANDARDTHERAPY CAN SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE THE PROGRESSION OF EROSION IN RA.