Low dose prednisone therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind study.
Prednisone, 5 mg taken each morning, was added to other drugs in 18 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Sixteen patients were given a placebo in this double blind study. After 24 weeks, all patients were given the placebo. Slight functional improvement was noted in the prednisone group during the 24-week period, but deterioration after switching to placebo was sustained for at least 8 weeks. Progression of hand erosions occurred in 1 prednisone-treated patient, and in 4 controls. An asymptomatic vertebral spine compression fracture developed in 2 patients given prednisone; this was the only toxicity noted possibly due to this therapy. Minimal dose prednisone may be useful as "bridge" therapy between nonsteroidal antiinflammatory therapy and use of disease-modifying drugs.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D011241:Prednisone