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

BACKGROUND: Although glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in the treatment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the best dosage for GCs, related to both, efficacy and safety, is not known.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two standard p.o. GC starting dosages and the non-use of GCs in the treatment of patients with early active RA on the background of the established 'anchor' therapy with methotrexate (MTX).

METHODS: Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial with two treatment arms (starting with 10 or 60 mg of p.o. prednisolone (P), tapered down to 5 mg P per day within 8 weeks) and one placebo arm, each arm comprising 150 patients. Duration of intervention is 12 weeks. In parallel, all patients start medication with MTX, usual dosage 15 mg/week. Primary efficacy endpoint is progression of radiographic damage after one year compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints are: percentage of patients in remission, changes of functional capacity etc. Safety monitoring is performed.

The analysis is performed in three hierarchical steps. First step is an analysis of covariance to compare the group with an initial P dosage of 60 mg (V60) and the placebo group (Pl). In case of a statistical significant result (α = 0.05), a comparison of the group starting with 10 mg P (V10) and Pl will be done in a second step (α = 0.05). In case of superiority of V10 versus Pl, a third step will be a non-inferiority test for V10 versus V60 (α = 0.025).

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis based on expert opinion according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2009 criteria (Hawker 2009)
• disease duration < 3 years
• active disease: disease activity score (DAS) 28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (Prevoo et al 1995) > 4 plus ≥ 3 swollen joints

Exclusion criteria

• Prior treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (except for hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine or methotrexate during the last four weeks before screening)
• Clinically relevant comorbidity:
• concurrent liver disease (ALT > 2 times upper limit of normal),
• active hepatitis B or C viral infection,
• renal disease (creatinine clearance < 30 ml/minute),
• clinically relevant haematological disease due to the judgement of the rheumatologist,
• uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,
• uncontrolled arterial hypertension,
• relevant immunodeficiency incl. HIV-infection,
• clinically significant pulmonary fibrosis,
• history of malignant melanoma,
• complicated or refractory gastrointestinal ulcers,
• presence or history of severe infections,
• uncontrolled increased intraocular pressure,
• pregnancy or planned pregnancy,
• non-compliance,
• age < 18 years