In:
Arthritis & Rheumatology, Wiley, Vol. 74, No. 10 ( 2022-10), p. 1628-1637
Abstract:
In active early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), glucocorticoids are often used for bridging, due to the delayed action of methotrexate. This study was undertaken to compare the effect of 3 bridging strategies, including high‐dose and low‐dose prednisolone, on radiographic and clinical outcomes. Methods Adult RA patients from 1 rheumatology hospital and 23 rheumatology practices who presented with moderate/high disease activity were randomized (1:1:1) to receive 60 mg prednisolone (high‐dose prednisolone [HDP]) or 10 mg prednisolone (low‐dose prednisolone [LDP] ) daily (tapered to 0 mg within 12 weeks) or placebo. The 12‐week intervention period was followed by 40 weeks of therapy at the physicians' discretion. The primary outcome measure was radiographic change at 1 year measured using the total modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS). Disease activity was assessed with the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28‐ESR). Results Of 395 randomized patients (HDP, n = 132; LDP, n = 131; placebo, n = 132), 375 (95%) remained in the modified intention‐to‐treat analysis. Mean ± SD changes in SHS scores in the 3 groups after 1 year were comparable: mean ± SD 1.0 ± 2.0 units in the HDP group, 1.1 ± 2.2 units in the LDP group, and 1.1 ± 1.5 units in the placebo group. The primary analysis showed no superiority of HDP compared to placebo (estimated difference of the mean change −0.04 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −0.5, 0.4]). At week 12, the mean DAS28‐ESR differed: −0.6 (95% CI −1.0, −0.2) for HDP versus placebo; –0.8 (95% CI −1.2, −0.5) for LDP versus placebo. At week 52, there was no significant difference in DAS28‐ESR between the 3 groups (range 2.6–2.8). Serious adverse events occurred similarly often. Conclusion Short‐term glucocorticoid bridging therapy at a high dose showed no benefit with regard to progression of radiographic damage at 1 year.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
2326-5191
,
2326-5205
Language:
English
Publisher:
Wiley
Publication Date:
2022
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2754614-7
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