Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Two Different Starting Dosages of Prednisolone in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial
试验速览
- 阶段
- 3 期
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 395
- 试验地点
- 25
- 主要终点
- Progression of radiographic damage after one year as quantified by the van der Heijde modification of the Sharp score (SHS). Determined at baseline and after one year.
研究概览
简要总结
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.
详细描述
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).
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Treatment
- 盲法
- Double (Participant, Investigator)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •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
排除标准
- •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
研究组 & 干预措施
Prednisolone 10
Prednihexal (Prednisolon), daily oral tablet, 10 mg during week one to four, 7,5 mg during week five to eight. Finally 5 mg for four weeks.
干预措施: Prednisolone (Drug)
Prednisolone 60
Prednihexal (Prednisolon), daily oral tablet, 60 mg during the first week, weekly tapering: 40 mg, 20mg, 15mg, 10mg, 7,5mg. 7,5mg continued for one more week. Finally 5 mg for four weeks
干预措施: Prednisolone (Drug)
Placebo
daily oral tablet
干预措施: Placebo (Drug)
结局指标
主要结局
Progression of radiographic damage after one year as quantified by the van der Heijde modification of the Sharp score (SHS). Determined at baseline and after one year.
时间窗: 52 weeks
15 sites in each hand and wrist and six joints in each foot are examined for joint space narrowing on a scale of 0 to 437: 0 indicates no narrowing, 1 represents minimal narrowing, 2 indicates loss of 50% of the joint space, 3 indicates loss of 75% of the joint space, and 4 represents complete loss of the joint space. The erosions are counted individually, usually at 16 sites in each hand and wrist and six sites in each foot, with a maximum score of 5 given for a destroyed hand or foot joint. For joints in the feet, the van der Heijde version of the Sharp scoring system has a maximum score of 10 for a destroyed joint
次要结局
- Percentage of patients in remission(12 weeks, 24 weeks, 52 weeks)
- Patient's assessment of disease activity(Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 52 weeks)
- Changes of functional capacity(Baseline, 12 weeks, 52 weeks)
研究者
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. H.J. Trampisch
Professor Dr. rer.nat.
Ruhr University of Bochum