title: A randomized, pilot trial of etanercept in dermatomyositis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this pilot study were to assess (1) the safety and tolerability of etanercept in dermatomyositis (DM); (2) the feasibility and safety of a forced prednisone taper; and (3) outcome measures, including those recommended by the International Myositis Assessment Clinical Study (IMACS) group.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of etanercept (50mg subcutaneously weekly) for 52 weeks in DM subjects. Subjects were tapered off prednisone in a standardized schedule as tolerated over the initial 24 weeks of the study. Principal outcomes included adverse events, time from randomization to treatment failure (inability to wean off prednisone on schedule), and average prednisone dosage after week 24.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen subjects were randomized, 11 to etanercept and 5 to placebo. There were no significant differences in adverse event rates between the treatment groups, although 5 etanercept-treated and 1 placebo-treated subjects developed worsening rash. All 5 subjects receiving placebo were treatment failures (median time to treatment failure 148 days). In contrast, 5 of 11 subjects in the etanercept arm were successfully weaned off prednisone; the median time to treatment failure in this group was 358 days (p = 0.0002). The median of the average prednisone dosage after week 24 was 29.2mg/day in the placebo group and 1.2mg/day in the etanercept group (p = 0.02). IMACS and other outcome measures demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients 0.79-0.99). There was no significant treatment effect on functional outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of no major safety concerns and a steroid-sparing effect in our study suggest that further investigation of etanercept as a treatment for DM is warranted.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept; D011241:Prednisone