Corticosteroids are medications that mimic the effects of hormones that your body naturally produces in your adrenal glands. In this study, they are used to treat ANCA-vasculitis, which is a condition where blood vessels become inflamed. These medications help reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system. The study compares how taking the same total amount of corticosteroids either once per day or split into two doses affects blood sugar levels in patients.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis – A group of autoimmune conditions that cause inflammation of small blood vessels throughout the body. This disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own blood vessels, leading to inflammation and damage. It can affect multiple organs, including kidneys, lungs, and skin. The condition typically develops gradually, with symptoms appearing over several weeks or months.

Rapid-progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) – A kidney disease characterized by swift deterioration of kidney function due to severe inflammation in the glomeruli, which are the kidney’s filtering units. The condition develops rapidly over days to weeks, causing inflammation and damage to the kidneys’ filtering system. The disease can occur on its own or as part of other autoimmune conditions. It leads to the formation of crescents in the glomeruli, which interferes with the normal filtering process of the kidneys.