Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Different Dosages of Cortisone Compared to Placebo in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Summary

Although cortisone is widely used in the treatment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis, the best dosage is not known. Therefore we will compare two standard prednisolon starting dosages and placebo in the treatment of patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis on the background of the established therapy with methotrexate. In total 450 patients will be included into the study. Two different treatment arms starting with 10 or 60 mg of prednisolone, and one placebo arm. Duration of intervention is 12 weeks. In parallel, all patients start medication with methotrexate, usual dosage 15 mg/week. Primary efficacy endpoint is progression of radiographic damage after one year compared to baseline. Safety monitoring is performed.

Timeline

Start

2014-01

Primary completion

2018-03

Completion

2019-09

Publications

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• Background Kirwan JR. The effect of glucocorticoids on joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council Low-Dose Glucocorticoid Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1995 Jul 20;333(3):142-6. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199507203330302.
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• Background Svensson B, Boonen A, Albertsson K, van der Heijde D, Keller C, Hafstrom I. Low-dose prednisolone in addition to the initial disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis reduces joint destruction and increases the remission rate: a two-year randomized trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Nov;52(11):3360-70. doi: 10.1002/art.21298.
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• Background van Everdingen AA, Jacobs JW, Siewertsz Van Reesema DR, Bijlsma JW. Low-dose prednisone therapy for patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis: clinical efficacy, disease-modifying properties, and side effects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Jan 1;136(1):1-12. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-1-200201010-00006.
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• Trampisch US, Krause D, Trampisch HJ, Klaassen-Mielke R, Baraliakos X, Braun J. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of two starting dosages of prednisolone in early active rheumatoid arthritis (CORRA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Sep 2;15:344. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-344.

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