title: Morning stiffness of the joints is the sole predictor of short-term response to glucocorticoid treatment in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
abstract: Several studies show that the application of oral glucocorticoids in patients with active RA leads to fast resolution of disease activity. Treatment strategies that include the initial application of glucocorticoids seem to have a favourable outcome in terms of long-term control of disease activity. Moreover, when tapered down to low doses, glucocorticoids show disease-modifying actions such as the inhibition of progression of structural damage to the inflamed joints. The goal of this study was to examine the predictors of short-term response to intermediate-dose glucocorticoids in patients with active RA.
authors.affiliation: ACURA Centre for Rheumatic Diseases Baden-Baden, Rotenbachtalstr. 5, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany. c.fiehn@acura-kliniken.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiehn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kessler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Müller
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids