The clinical effect of glucocorticoids in patients with rheumatoid arthritis may be masked by decreased use of additional therapies.

Objective: Our previous analysis of patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with prednisone or placebo revealed the following discrepancy: although a significant retardation of joint damage was observed in the prednisone group compared with the placebo group, no differences in clinical variables between the 2 groups were observed, due to greater use of additional therapy in the placebo group. We sought to investigate whether this discrepancy would extend to variables of well-being.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of prednisone (10 mg) in patients with RA; the duration of the study was 2 years.

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.

Background: Oral glucocorticoids combined with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are beneficial and retard radiologic joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy, disease-modifying properties, and side effects of low-dose glucocorticoids as monotherapy for previously untreated patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis.

Design: 2-year randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.