The use of oral corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel diseases in Italy: An IG-IBD survey.

AIM: To evaluate how Italian gastroenterologists use corticosteroids in clinical practice for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: All members of the Italian Group for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD) were invited to fill in a web-based questionnaire.

RESULTS: 131/448 (29.2%) members completed the survey. In mild-to-moderate UC and CD relapses, low-bioavailability steroids (LBS) are first-line therapy for 37% and 42% of clinicians, respectively. In case of failure, immediate step-up to biologics or immunosuppressants is considered by 23% and 29%. Regarding conventional corticosteroids (CCS), a fixed starting dose is prescribed by 50%, and a weight-based dose by 22%. Tapering is started after 7-10days by 41% and after 14days by 32%. The preferred tapering schedule is 5mg/week. In case of CCS failure, 47% switch to parenteral steroids before considering shifting to different drug classes. In case of symptoms recurrence during tapering, 14% re-increase the dose and try tapering again. Before prescribing steroids, 72% do not prescribe any specific evaluation whereas during treatment some evaluation is performed by 85%. Vitamin D and calcium supplements are routinely prescribed along with steroids by 38%.

CONCLUSIONS: Several discrepancies and some deviation from the available guidelines were recorded among Italian gastroenterologists regarding corticosteroids use in IBD patients.