Appropriate use and complications of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive review

Joseph D Feuerstein; David T Rubin; Faten N Aberra; Andreas Yarur; Lisa Malter

doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2025.05.019

Appropriate use and complications of corticosteroids in inflammatory bowel disease: A comprehensive review

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Jun 28:S1542-3565(25)00535-X. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2025.05.019. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Joseph D Feuerstein, David T Rubin¹, Faten N Aberra², Andreas Yarur³, Lisa Malter⁴

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology, University of Chicago.
² Division of Gastroenterology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
³ Inflammatory Bowel Disease Institute, Division of Gastroenterology, Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles California.
⁴ Division of Gastroenterology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine.

PMID: 40588110
DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2025.05.019

Abstract

Corticosteroids are one of the most frequently prescribed medications for the management of inflammatory bowel disease. While corticosteroids have a critical role for select cases for induction of remission, there is a notable risk of over-use and miss-use of corticosteroids. This narrative review updates the evolving use of corticosteroids in the management of inflammatory bowel disease. The review focuses on the appropriate use, route of administration and duration for the use of corticosteroids. Additionally, this review summarizes the side effects, use of steroids in special populations (e.g. geriatrics, pregnancy, underrepresented minorities), and their use in the peri-operative setting.

Keywords: Corticosteroids; Crohn’s disease; complications; inflammatory bowel disease; methylprednisolone; prednisone; ulcerative colitis.

Publication types

Review