title: Randomized double-blind study of the effect of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone pulse in the control of rheumatoid arthritis flare-up: a preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of dexamethasone and methylprednisolone for pulse therapy of rheumatoid arthritis flare-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized double-blind controlled study was performed in the Emam Reza Educational Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Thirty rheumatoid arthritis patients who had severely active disease were recruited to the dexamethasone and methylprednisolone pulse groups. Disease activity of all the patients was measured by the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) at baseline, and days 4 and 30.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences in the DAS28 at days 4 and 30, and the number of patients whose DAS28 obtained less than 3.2 and 2.6 in the dexamethasone and methylprednisolone groups were non-significant. There was not any significant difference between the adverse effects of the treatments in the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study suggest that dexamethasone pulse therapy is a safe and effective treatment for severe rheumatoid arthritis flare-up.
authors.affiliation: Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahideh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sadra
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khabbazi
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kolahi
authors.forename: Mehrzad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hajialiloo
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghojazadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018450:Disease Progression; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D020551:Pulse Therapy, Drug; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone; D008775:Methylprednisolone
keywords: dexamethasone; methylprednisolone; pulse therapy; rheumatoid arthritis