[Use of systemic glucocorticoids in therapy of infectious diseases].

Glucocorticoids have been known and used in clinical practice for many years now, still their position in the treatment of infectious diseases is continuously developing. Still there are only few review papers focusing on their use in this area. This article summarizes the present knowledge of possible use of glucocorticoids in therapy of infectious diseases.

Application of the DETECT algorithm for detection of risk of pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: data from a Czech tertiary centre.

Objective: The early, simple and reliable detection of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in SSc (DETECT) study described a new algorithm for early detection of PAH in patients with SSc. The aim of this retrospective, single-centre, cross-sectional study was to apply a modified DETECT calculator in patients with SSc in the East Bohemian region, Czech Republic, to assess the risk of PAH and to compare these results with PAH screening based on the European Society of Cardiology/European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) 2009 guidelines.

Methods: Sixty patients were recruited with a diagnosis of SSc (according to ACR criteria), aged 27-78 years.

Quality of life and drug compliance: their interrelationship in rheumatic patients.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: In rheumatic disorders, one of the treatment objectives is to improve the patient's quality of life (QoL). Similar to other chronic conditions, drug compliance is poor, but necessary for successful treatment. The relationship between drug compliance and QoL has never been tested.

Drug compliance in patients with systemic scleroderma.

Although drug compliance is a crucial component of treatment effectiveness in chronic diseases, it has never been evaluated in patients with systemic scleroderma. Therefore, the aim of this descriptive study was to determine the drug compliance rate in systemic scleroderma patients and to identify risk factors for noncompliance in these patients. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted.

[Interactions between glucocorticoids and warfarin in chronic inflammatory (autoimmune) diseases].

Glucocorticosteroids are still very important part of the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders. Their use is often accompanied by unpleasant adverse effects, problems associated with withdrawal during their long-term use and interactions with concomitantly administered drugs. One of the important interactions that may often occur in clinical practice is interaction with warfarin.