Three years of prednisone can trigger cataracts in people with lupus

It has been known for some time that long-term use of prednisone can cause cataracts, but new findings now give an idea of how long it takes (and how much drug is needed) for problems to surface. Research published in Rheumatology International found that the risk of cataracts more than doubles if people with systemic lupus erythematosus have been on 10mg/day of prednisone (or its equivalent) for three or more years.
About the patients
• A total of 2,109 people with no history of cataracts. Half were under 40 years old at the start of the study; the rest were under 60 years old.
• 93% were women
• 54% were white and 39% were black

Results
Cataracts were not associated with lupus duration, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, renal involvement, immunological profile, and medication history other than prednisone.
Risk of cataracts tripled when people had been on prednisone for 10 or more years. The doubling of risk was found in those who had been on 10mg/day, or its equivalent, for three to 10 years. But shorter courses did not increase the risk of cataracts.
“The cumulative prednisone dose was the most important risk factor for cataract[s],” explains Dr Khaled Alderaan, who led the work.
Risk of cataracts also doubled if patients had a mean systolic blood pressure above 140mm Hg over the average four year follow-up.
“These results provide further incentive for controlling blood pressure and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus,” the authors concluded.

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Image credit: Fabio