Glucocorticoids can do a lot of harm over time. In this episode, John Stone, MD, MPH, walks us through the Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index (GTI), a validated tool to measure steroid toxicity over time that we’ll be seeing more of in the future.

• Intro :11
• Stone introduction :26
• About the GTI 1:13
• Professional development opportunities for rheumatologists 2:32
• The interview 4:27
• What is the GTI, how did it come about and how do you think rheumatologists now and in the future will be utilizing it? 5:28
• What are the difficulties in measuring steroid toxicities in trials? 10:58
• How did you go about putting this instrument together? 13:04
• What makes up the GTI? 19:11
• Can you explain the Cumulative Worsening Score and the Aggregate Improvement Score? 20:53
• Walk us through a patient coming in and being evaluated for the GTI 25:49
• What's the future of the GTI in your opinion? 30:32
• Do you think the GTI is going to be something that can eventually be used in day-to-day clinical practice? 33:42
• Thank you, Dr. John Stone 34:43

John Stone, MD, MPH, is director of clinical rheumatology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Disclosures: Brown reports no relevant financial disclosures. Stone is one of the experts who developed the Glucocorticoid Toxicity Index. 

We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Dr. Brown at [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter @HRheuminations @AdamJBrownMD @HealioRheum