Clinical trial NCT02921555
Conditions: Ulcerative Colitis
Keywords: RCT (randomized controlled trial)
Sponsor: Grupo Espanol de Trabajo en Enfermedad de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa
Start date: 2018-10-11; Completion date: 2022-11-07
Enrollment: 75 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacy of high-dose corticosteroid pulses added to conventional oral corticosteroid course for moderate flares of ulcerative colitis.

Detailed description:
Oral corticosteroids (CS) are the treatment of choice for moderate flares of ulcerative colitis (UC) in patients who are on 5-aminosalicylic acid (5ASA) maintenance therapy. However, the efficacy of oral CS is limited, with up to 50% of remission rate in the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs). By the other hand, uncompleted disease remission after CS use, that is, clinical but not endoscopic remission, has been associated with a higher risk of hospitalizations and need for immunomodulator or colectomy in UC. Uncontrolled data suggests that intravenous CS (IV CS) may increase the remission rate and also reduce the proportion of patients developing steroid-dependency after the index course of CS.

The hypothesis of this study is that the addition of a 3-day high-dose IV CS pulses schedule administered in the outpatient infusion unit, added to a conventional oral CS course increases the endoscopic remission rate and reduces the 1-year proportion of patients developing steroid-dependency.

This is a randomized, phase IV, open-label, multicenter, controlled study.

The planned number of patients to be included is 148, distributed in two treatment arms (with or without initial high-dose CS pulse), and stratified regarding disease onset and mesalazine use.

The main end-point will be the proportion of patients with steroid-free, clinical and endoscopic remission at 8 and 54 weeks, with no rescue therapies.

The demonstration of a higher efficacy of the proposed treatment schedule would impact on a lower requirement for conventional immunosuppressive therapy (thiopurines) and biological agents, reduced hospitalizations and surgery. Moreover, this treatment regimen allows an outpatient management of moderate flares.

Baseline characteristics will be analyzed by descriptive statistical analysis by conventional methods. Categorical variables will be compared using Mann-Whitney test and continuous variables by Student T test.

In order to evaluate the primary endpoint a Chi square test will be performed to compare the proportions of patients in both study groups that achieved clinical and endoscopic steroid-free remission at 8 weeks and is maintained without steroids or salvage therapy and with no rescue therapy up to 54 weeks.

Per protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (IT) analysis will be made The Per Protocol analysis will include all participants who did adequately adhere to the protocol, in particular those who did received the total amount of the intervention.

Missing outcomes data will be treated as non-response imputation (NRI). The intention-to treat-analysis will only include all randomized patients in the analysis, all retained in the group to which they were allocated, except those patients with missing outcomes that did not completed treatment regimen due to SAE criteria or treatment failure.

In order to evaluate the secondary endpoints a Chi square test and a Student T test will be performed for both study groups.

Cumulative probabilities of relapse, steroid dependency and surgery will be evaluated in both groups by Kaplan-Meiery, and compared by using log-rank test.

Finally, association analysis of early clinical response, clinical and endoscopic remission at week 8 and week 8 and 54 will be performed by chi-square test and Student T test; those variables that reach a Pvalue ≤ 0.1 will be included in the logistic regression analysis.

Arms: arm 1: Intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone followed by a decreasing conventional course of oral prednisone arm 2: A decreasing conventional course of oral prednisone
Interventions: intervention 1: Methylprednisolone intervention 2: Prednisone
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Intravenous bolus of methylprednisolone 0.5g/day for 3 consecutive days followed by a decreasing conventional course of oral prednisone (week1; 60mg/d, w2; 50mg/d, w3;40mg/d, w4; 30mg/d, w5; 20mg/d, w6; 15mg/d, w7; 10mg/d, w8; 5 mg/d, w9; 0mg/d) intervention 2: Conventional course of oral prednisone (week1; 60mg/d, w2; 50mg/d, w3;40mg/d, w4; 30mg/d, w5; 20mg/d, w6; 15mg/d, w7; 10mg/d, w8; 5 mg/d, w9; 0mg/d)

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
Protocol Title: 
 
Eficacia de los bolos intravenosos de corticoides más tratamiento con corticoides orales 
en comparación con corticoides orales en monoterapia para el tratamiento de la colitis 
ulcerosa moderada: ensayo clínico multicéntrico y aleatorizado 
Efficacy of Intravenous Steroid Boluses Combined with Oral Steroid Treatment 
Compared to Oral Steroids Alone for Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, 
Randomized Clinical Trial 
Protocol Code: 
CECUM (Corticoides Endovenosos en la Colitis Ulcerosa Moderada) 
Version 2.2, October 4, 2019 – English traslation. 
 
EUDRA CT Number: 2016-001170-15 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02921555 
Sponsor 
Grupo Español de Trabajo en Enfermedad de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa 
(GETECCU) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


1. SIGNATURE PAGE 
Title: 
Efficacy of Intravenous Steroid Boluses Combined with Oral Steroid Treatment 
Compared to Oral Steroids Alone for Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, 
Randomized Clinical Trial. 
Protocol Code: 
CECUM 
EudraCT Number: 
2016-001170-15 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 
NCT02921555 
Version and Date: 
Version 2.2, October 4, 2019 
I confirm that I have read and understand the protocol of the above-mentioned clinical 
trial and agree to conduct this trial according to the stipulations outlined therein, adhering 
to the norms of good clinical practice and all ethical and legal standards applicable to 
such studies. 
 
Primary Investigator's Signature 
Date: __________________________ 
Dr. ______________________________ 
Coordinating Investigator's Signature 
Date: __________________________ 
Dr. Eugeni Domènech Morral 
Sponsor's Signature 
Date: __________________________ 
Dr. Manuel Barreiro de Acosta 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2. STUDY SUMMARY TABLE 
STUDY TITLE: 
Efficacy of Intravenous Steroid Boluses Combined with Oral Steroid Treatment 
Compared to Oral Steroids Alone for Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, 
Randomized Clinical Trial 
PROTOCOL CODE: 
CECUM 
EUDRA CT Number: 
2016-001170-15 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 
NCT02921555 
STUDY DESIGN: 
Phase IV, controlled, prospective, randomized, open, multicenter study. 
STUDY OBJECTIVE: 
To compare the short- and long-term efficacy of adding three intravenous boluses of 
0.5g of methylprednisolone to a conventional course of oral steroids (prednisone) for 
the treatment of moderate ulcerative colitis flares. 
PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE: 
Clinical and endoscopic remission, steroid-free at 8 and 54 weeks, without rescue 
treatment and without steroid requirement up to week 54. 
STUDY POPULATION: 
148 patients with moderate ulcerative colitis activity, with or without maintenance 
treatment or oral/topical mesalazine, will be stratified based on disease onset and 
maintenance treatment with mesalazine >2g/day in the last 3 months, and randomized 
1:1 into the two treatment arms. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


3. STUDY SUMMARY 
Study Title: 
Efficacy of Intravenous Steroid Boluses Combined with Oral Steroid Treatment 
Compared to Oral Steroids Alone for Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, 
Randomized Clinical Trial. 
Protocol Code: 
CECUM. 
EUDRA CT Number: 
2016-001170-15. 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 
NCT02921555. 
Study Design: 
Phase IV, controlled, prospective, randomized, open, multicenter study. 
Study Sites: 
The study will be conducted at Spanish sites (Annex 1). 
Study Objectives: 
Primary Objective: 
To compare the short- and long-term efficacy of adding three boluses of 0.5g 
methylprednisolone to a conventional course of oral steroids (prednisone) for the 
treatment of moderate ulcerative colitis flares. 
Secondary Objectives: 
• 
Clinical response at days 3 and 7. 
• 
Biological response (C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin) at days 3, 7, 2 
months, and 12 months. 
• 
Rate of adverse effects. 
• 
Rate of severe adverse effects. 
• 
Proportion of patients with clinical relapse. 
• 
Time to clinical relapse. 
• 
Need for hospitalization. 
• 
Proportion of patients developing corticosteroid dependency. 
• 
Time to development of corticosteroid dependency. 
• 
Identification of predictive parameters of corticosteroid response. 
Primary Outcome Measure: 
Clinical and endoscopic remission, steroid-free at weeks 8 and 54, without rescue 
treatment and without the need for steroids until week 54. 
Study Population and Sample Size: 
148 patients with moderate activity ulcerative colitis, without maintenance treatment or 
with oral/topical mesalazine treatment, will be stratified based on disease onset and 


maintenance mesalazine treatment at doses >2g/day in the past 3 months and 
randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms. 
Study Treatment: 
Treatment Groups: 
1. Intravenous bolus of 0.5 g/day of methylprednisolone for 3 consecutive 
days, followed by oral prednisone 60 mg/day with a tapering regimen (decrease 
by 10 mg per week until a dose of 20 mg. From 20 mg, decrease by 5 mg per 
week until completely withdrawn). 
2. Oral prednisone at a dose of 60 mg/day for one week, followed by a tapering 
regimen (decrease by 10 mg per week until a dose of 20 mg. From 20 mg, 
decrease by 5 mg per week until completely withdrawn). 
In both groups, the study treatment will be accompanied by: 
• 
Concomitant treatment with 1g/day 5-ASA suppositories for the first 4 weeks. 
• 
Concomitant treatment with calcium (1000 mg/day) and vitamin D (800 IU/day) 
until the withdrawal of corticosteroids. 
• 
Maintenance treatment with mesalazine 2 g/day starting from a reduction to 20 
mg/day of prednisone (for patients on 5-ASA at the time of the flare-up, it will 
be suspended at study inclusion). 
Study Duration: 
156 weeks. 
Timeline: 
Start date: Q4 2018; End date: Q4 2021. 
 
4. GENERAL INFORMATION 
I) Study Identification 
Title: 
Efficacy of Intravenous Steroid Boluses Combined with Oral Steroid Treatment 
Compared to Oral Steroids Alone for Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: A Multicenter, 
Randomized Clinical Trial. 
Protocol Code: 
CECUM. 
Version and Date: 
Version 2.2, October 4, 2019 
EUDRA CT Number: 
2016-001170-15 


ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: 
NCT02921555 
II) Sponsor and Coordinating Investigators Information 
Study Sponsor: 
Grupo Español de Trabajo en Enfermedad de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa (GETECCU) 
Gran Vía nº 81 - 5th Floor, Office 10 
48011 – Bilbao 
Phone: +34 944 278 855 / Fax: +34 944 278 808 
Email: Info@congresosXXI.com 
www.geteccu.org 
Principal Investigators: 
A list of all Principal Investigators participating in the study is provided in Annex 1. 
III) Clinical Research Ethics Committee (CEIm) 
CEIm of Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol 
IV) Authorized Person for Signing the Protocol and Amendments on Behalf of the 
Sponsor 
Dr. Eugeni Domènech Morral - Head of Digestive System Service 
Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol 
Digestive System Service, 5th Floor, Main Building 
Carretera del Canyet s/n 
08916 Badalona 
Phone: +34 934 978 909 
Email: eugenidomenech@gmail.com 
V) Medical Expert for the Study Sponsor 
Dr. Eugeni Domènech Morral - Head of Digestive System Service 
Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol 
Digestive System Service, 5th Floor, Main Building 
Carretera del Canyet s/n 
08916 Badalona 
Phone: +34 934 978 909 
Email: eugenidomenech@gmail.com 
 
5. JUSTIFICATION 
I) Summary of Relevant Non-Clinical and Clinical Findings for the Current Study 
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause, 
characterized by flares or periods of active disease alternating with periods of remission 
or inactivity. Treatment is primarily based on the use of salicylic acid derivatives, 


corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, anti-TNF antibodies, and anti-integrin antibodies. 
The management of flares depends on both the extent of the disease and the severity of 
symptoms. It is well-established that mild flares are treated with aminosalicylates, while 
severe flares require hospitalization and intensive treatment with intravenous 
corticosteroids. According to recommendations from the European Crohn’s and Colitis 
Organization (ECCO), the treatment for moderate UC flares should also rely on 
aminosalicylates, with oral corticosteroids used as rescue therapy when there is no 
improvement with aminosalicylates. However, in clinical practice, many of these 
patients already receive maintenance therapy with aminosalicylates (often at high 
doses), making oral corticosteroids the initial treatment option in most cases. 
Nonetheless, the efficacy of oral corticosteroids for moderate flares has been scarcely 
evaluated, with reported success rates between 30% and 50% in limited randomized 
controlled trials (2-5). 
In clinical practice, intravenous corticosteroids are frequently used for moderate flares. 
There is evidence suggesting that intravenous administration may have greater efficacy 
in moderate UC activity. A retrospective study conducted in our setting showed that in 
UC patients who responded to an initial course of corticosteroids, intravenous 
administration during moderate flares was associated with a lower relapse rate (61% 
compared to 80%, p=0.027) (6). This high relapse and/or corticosteroid dependency rate 
may be related to achieving clinical remission without endoscopic remission (7). 
Pharmacokinetic data also support the use of intravenous corticosteroid treatment for 
UC flares. A study over 30 years ago demonstrated that plasma concentrations of 
prednisolone after oral administration were significantly lower in patients with severe 
UC flares compared to healthy subjects (8). Among patients with severe UC flares, 
plasma prednisolone levels after intravenous administration of 20 mg were higher (peak 
and area under the curve) compared to oral administration of 40 mg (9). Moreover, a 
retrospective study (10) suggested that intravenously administered corticosteroids for 
moderate UC flares are more effective at inducing clinical remission than the oral 
administration of 40 mg prednisone in controlled trials (2-5). Patients who initially 
failed to respond to oral corticosteroids but later responded to intravenous 
administration were more likely to develop corticosteroid dependency during follow-up 
than those treated intravenously from the outset for moderate activity (54% vs. 23%, 
p=0.01) (10). 
 
II) Description and Justification of the Administration Route, Dosage, Regimen, 
and Treatment Period 
Our hypothesis suggests that in moderate UC flares, corticosteroids administered 
intravenously are more effective than when administered orally, likely because they 
induce mucosal healing in a higher proportion of patients. This would result in a greater 
initial endoscopic remission rate and a lower rate of relapses and/or development of 
corticosteroid dependency in the medium term compared to conventional oral treatment. 
In other immune-mediated inflammatory diseases requiring rapid response, such as 
lupus nephritis or acute transplant rejection, high-dose intravenous corticosteroid 
boluses have shown superior outcomes compared to conventional oral prednisone 
regimens (11-12). 


Corticosteroid bolus therapy consists of administering supraphysiological doses of 
corticosteroids over a short period (2 to 5 days) without a subsequent tapering schedule. 
This therapeutic approach has been associated with a prolonged therapeutic effect 
without the feared adverse effects typically seen with corticosteroid therapy. In UC, four 
studies have reported results on corticosteroid boluses (two of which were retrospective 
studies in pediatric patients, one in severe UC, and one in moderate UC). These studies, 
with limited patient numbers and varying regimens (mainly involving oral 
corticosteroids after the initial boluses), suggested a faster therapeutic effect without an 
increase in adverse effects (13-16). This strategy may allow for outpatient intravenous 
corticosteroid administration, avoiding hospital admissions typically required in clinical 
practice, without increasing the risk of adverse events. 
 
Treatment Groups: 
1. Intravenous Bolus Group: 0.5 g/day of methylprednisolone for 3 consecutive 
days, followed by oral prednisone at 60 mg/day for one week, then a tapering 
regimen (decrease by 10 mg weekly until a dose of 20 mg, followed by a 
decrease of 5 mg weekly until complete withdrawal). 
2. Oral Prednisone Group: 60 mg/day for one week, followed by a tapering 
regimen (decrease by 10 mg weekly until a dose of 20 mg, followed by a 
decrease of 5 mg weekly until complete withdrawal). 
In both groups: 
• 
Concomitant treatment with 1g/day 5-ASA suppositories during the first four 
weeks. 
• 
Concomitant treatment with calcium (1000 mg/day) and vitamin D (800 IU/day) 
until corticosteroids are withdrawn. 
• 
Maintenance treatment with mesalazine 2-2.4 g/day starting from the reduction 
to 20 mg/day of prednisone (for patients on 5-ASA at the time of flare-up, this 
will be stopped at study inclusion). 
• 
Any other concomitant treatment the patient receives during the study must be 
documented in the e-CRD. 
 
III) General and Specific Guidelines for Investigators 
Investigators must strictly adhere to the protocol and completely fill out the electronic 
data collection form (e-CRD) provided by the sponsor. 
The trial will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations for clinical trials 
and the evaluation of drugs in humans, as outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki 
(1964), and its revisions in Tokyo, Venice, Hong Kong, South Africa, Edinburgh, 
Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul (2008), Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards, and 
current Spanish legislation (Royal Decree 1090/2015) on clinical trials. 


If any participant experiences a disease or adverse event that requires pharmacological 
treatment or modifies the study drugs' disposition, the study medication must be 
withdrawn. In such cases, the adverse event will be monitored until resolution and the 
participant followed up until the end of the study. If the adverse reaction is mild or 
moderate and does not require suspension of the drug, it will be documented, and the 
study will continue as planned. 
 
IV) Study Population Description 
A total of 148 patients with moderate activity ulcerative colitis, without maintenance 
treatment or with oral/topical mesalazine, will be stratified based on disease onset and 
maintenance treatment with mesalazine at doses >2g/day in the last three months and 
randomized 1:1 into two treatment arms. 
 
V) Literature References and Relevant Data 
1. Dignass A, Lindsay J, Sturm A, et al. Second European-based Consensus on the 
Diagnosis and Management of Ulcerative Colitis: Current Management. J Crohn 
Colitis 2012; 6: 991-1030. 
Recommendations of the European Crohn’s and Colitis Organization governing 
clinical practice in ulcerative colitis treatment. 
(Additional references 2-16 as listed in the original protocol are summarized and 
referenced in the document for completeness.) 
 
6. OBJECTIVES AND PURPOSE OF THE STUDY 
Primary Objective 
To compare the short- and long-term efficacy of adding three intravenous boluses of 
0.5g of methylprednisolone to a conventional course of oral corticosteroids (prednisone) 
for the treatment of moderate ulcerative colitis flares. 
Secondary Objectives 
• 
Clinical response at days 3 and 7. 
• 
Biological response (C-reactive protein, fecal calprotectin) at days 3, 7, 2 
months, and 12 months. 
• 
Rate of adverse effects. 
• 
Rate of severe adverse effects. 
• 
Proportion of patients with clinical relapse. 
• 
Time to clinical relapse. 
• 
Need for hospitalization. 
• 
Proportion of patients developing corticosteroid dependency. 
• 
Time to development of corticosteroid dependency. 


• 
Need for and time to surgery. 
• 
Identification of predictive parameters of corticosteroid response. 
 
7. STUDY DESIGN 
I) Primary and Secondary Variables 
Primary Outcome Variable: 
Clinical and endoscopic remission, steroid-free at 8 and 54 weeks, without rescue 
treatment and without the need for steroids up to week 54. 
Secondary Variables (Variables of Interest): 
• 
Clinical Remission (assessed at weeks 8 and 54): Mayo Score ≤ 2 points with 
no individual variable > 1. 
• 
Endoscopic Remission: Mayo endoscopic subscore of 0 or 1. 
• 
Clinical Response (assessed at weeks 8 and 54): a reduction in the Mayo score 
by at least 3 points and at least 30%, with a decrease in the rectal bleeding 
subscore of at least 1 point or to an absolute value of 0 or 1. 
• 
Early Clinical Response: a decrease in the clinical Mayo subscore by at least 3 
points and at least 30%, with a decrease in the rectal bleeding subscore of at 
least 1 point or to an absolute value of 0 or 1, at days 3 and 7 of corticosteroid 
treatment. 
• 
Relapse: reappearance of symptoms, defined as a Mayo clinical subscore > 2. 
The time of relapse from treatment initiation will be recorded. 
• 
Corticosteroid Dependency: relapse during prednisone tapering or within three 
months after corticosteroid discontinuation. 
• 
Rescue Treatment: restart or increase of the established corticosteroid dose 
(including topically acting oral corticosteroids) or initiation of any treatment for 
ulcerative colitis other than mesalazine, including biological agents (infliximab, 
adalimumab, golimumab, vedolizumab), calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporine, 
tacrolimus), thiopurines (azathioprine, mercaptopurine), methotrexate, 
leukapheresis, or colectomy. 
• 
Need for Surgery and time to surgery from treatment initiation. 
• 
Adverse Event Rate and rate of severe adverse events (including 
hospitalizations) recorded throughout the study duration. 
• 
Fecal Calprotectin Determination. 
II) Study Design 
This is a Phase IV, controlled, prospective, randomized, open, multicenter study to 
compare two corticosteroid treatment regimens for moderate UC flares. 
III) Estimated Number of Subjects, Sample Size, and Justification 
Study Subjects: Adult patients of both sexes with active moderate ulcerative colitis, 
with or without maintenance treatment or with oral/topical mesalazine. 


Sample Size: 148 patients. 
Sample Size Calculation: 
Assuming a probability of clinical and endoscopic remission at 8 weeks and sustained 
without corticosteroid reintroduction or rescue treatment at 54 weeks of 20% in the 
control group (oral prednisone), a total of 148 patients are needed to detect a ≥20% 
improvement in the therapeutic group (one-tailed test) with a significance level (α) of 
0.05 and a power (β) of 0.20, accounting for an estimated 10% dropout rate. 
IV) Randomization and Blinding Techniques 
After the patient signs the informed consent document approved by the Research Ethics 
Committee and AEMPS, and meets all inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion 
criteria, they will be eligible for inclusion in the trial. Patients will be randomized (1:1) 
into each treatment arm via a computerized system provided by AEG-RedCap. 
Randomization will be performed in blocks of 4 and stratified by (1) whether the 
disease is newly diagnosed, and (2) whether the patient has received maintenance 
treatment with mesalazine at doses >2 grams/day in the last three months. 
This is an open-label study, meaning both the study subjects and investigators will be 
aware of the assigned treatment. However, blinding will be maintained in the analysis of 
blood samples for corticosteroid response predictive factors and calprotectin levels in 
fecal samples, which will be centralized and blinded. The technician conducting the 
measurement will not know the treatment arm or the clinical response associated with 
each sample. 
V) Treatment Description 
The study medication (methylprednisolone for intravenous bolus) will be supplied by 
the sponsor, while the oral prednisone, calcium supplements, and aminosalicylates will 
be supplied as per routine clinical practice. 
Treatment Groups: 
1. Intravenous Bolus Group: 0.5 g/day of methylprednisolone administered 
intravenously for 3 consecutive days, followed by oral prednisone 60 mg/day for 
1 week, with a subsequent tapering regimen (decrease by 10 mg weekly until 20 
mg, followed by a decrease of 5 mg weekly until complete withdrawal). 
2. Oral Prednisone Group: 60 mg/day for 1 week, followed by a tapering 
regimen (decrease by 10 mg weekly until 20 mg, followed by a decrease of 5 mg 
weekly until complete withdrawal). 
In both groups: 
• 
Concomitant 5-ASA Suppository Treatment: 1g/day during the first 4 weeks. 
• 
Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation: Calcium 1000 mg/day and Vitamin 
D 800 IU/day until corticosteroid withdrawal. 
• 
Maintenance Mesalazine Treatment: Mesalazine 2-2.4 g/day starting from 
prednisone tapering to 20 mg/day (in patients receiving 5-ASA during the flare-
up, it will be discontinued upon inclusion in the study). 


• 
Any other concomitant treatment received by the patient during the study must 
be recorded in the e-CRD. 
Study Procedures: (summarized in Annex 8) 
1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be reviewed, and informed consent will be 
signed at Visit 0. 
2. Pre-inclusion epidemiological and clinical data will be collected. 
3. Anthropometric data: height and weight, taken at the screening visit (V0). 
4. Stool sample collection (Clostridium Difficile toxin determination and 
coproculture) and pregnancy test for women at the screening visit (V0). 
5. Vital signs (temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure) and basic physical 
examination at each visit (V0 to V8). 
6. Disease Activity Index according to the Mayo Clinic score (Disease Activity 
Index – DAI, Annex 2) will be calculated at visits V1, V5, and V8, and clinical 
subscore will be calculated at all other study visits. Walmsley Index will be 
calculated at all visits (Annex 3). 
7. General laboratory tests (including blood count, renal and liver function, and C-
reactive protein) and fecal sample collection for fecal calprotectin determination 
(samples preserved frozen until study completion for centralized analysis) at 
each visit. 
8. Blood sample collection at baseline for corticosteroid response predictive factors 
analysis. 
9. Rectosigmoidoscopy and Mayo endoscopic subscore calculation (Annex 2) at 
Visits V0 or V1, V5, and V8. 
10. Clinical response assessment at Visits V2 and V3; clinical and endoscopic 
response assessment at Visits V5 and V8. 
11. Extra Visit for Intravenous Bolus Group (Group 1): an additional visit on 
Day 2 (Visit 1.1) for administration of the second corticosteroid bolus. 
VI) Recruitment Period, Follow-Up, and Study Duration 
• 
Patient Inclusion Start Date: September 2018 
• 
Patient Inclusion End Date: September 2020 
• 
Recruitment Period: 104 weeks 
• 
Patient Treatment Duration: 8 weeks 
• 
Patient Follow-Up Duration: 42 weeks 
• 
Expected Completion Date for Last Enrolled Patient: September 2021 
• 
Total Study Duration: 156 weeks 
• 
Duration of Patient Participation: 12 months 
VII) Criteria for Premature Study Termination and Interruption 
Criteria for Premature Study Termination: 
• 
Patient Decision: Patients may withdraw from the study at any time without 
any penalty or impact on their disease management or subsequent required 
treatments. 
• 
Serious Complications Due to Steroid Treatment: Occurrence of severe 
adverse events related to corticosteroid treatment. 


• 
Lack of Early Clinical Response. 
• 
Lack of Clinical and Endoscopic Remission, Steroid-Free at Week 8. 
• 
Clinical Worsening and Need for Rescue Treatment or Serious Adverse 
Event: At the investigator’s discretion, this can occur at any time during the 
study. 
VIII) Procedures to Verify Adherence to Oral Treatment 
This procedure is intended to determine the study medication adherence of the subjects. 
The principal investigator or a delegated person will provide detailed instructions to the 
patient regarding medication intake, along with an informative medication diary to be 
returned upon treatment completion (see Annex 6). Therefore, the principal investigator 
or delegated personnel must maintain product traceability and record medication 
administration per patient visit in the electronic case report form (e-CRD). Any 
medication-related incidents must be documented in the patient's clinical history and 
recorded in the e-CRF. 
IX) Blinding Techniques 
This is an open-label study, meaning no blinding will be applied except for the analysis 
of blood samples for predictive factors of corticosteroid response and the determination 
of fecal calprotectin in collected fecal samples. These analyses will be conducted 
centrally and blinded to ensure the laboratory technician performing the analysis is 
unaware of the treatment group and the patient's clinical response. 
Evaluation of the primary outcome variable will be performed by the endoscopy 
services of the participating hospitals. Endoscopists will conduct a blinded assessment 
of endoscopic procedures (third-party blinded evaluations). 
X) Data Identification 
Investigators will comply with GCP standards. All information collected during the trial 
will be documented in the electronic case report form (e-CRF). In case of any protocol 
deviations, they will be limited to that specific patient. The investigator(s) will 
comprehensively document the deviation and its reason in the e-CRF. If a deviation 
pertains to inclusion/exclusion criteria, investigators must contact the clinical monitor to 
inform them by phone. 
XI) Definition of Study End 
The study end date is defined as the date when the last patient completes their final 
follow-up visit. 
 
8. SUBJECT SELECTION AND WITHDRAWAL 
I) Inclusion Criteria 


1. Diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis based on the European Crohn’s and Colitis 
Organization criteria. 
2. Patients aged 18 years or older. 
3. Disease extension of at least left-sided (involvement >25 cm from the anal 
margin). 
4. Moderate flare according to the Mayo Index (score ≥ 6 and ≤ 10). 
5. No maintenance treatment or only 5-ASA oral and/or topical treatment. 
6. Patient has the capacity to understand study requirements and provide informed 
consent. 
7. Signed Informed Consent. 
II) Exclusion Criteria 
1. Previous or current treatment with thiopurines, calcineurin inhibitors, 
methotrexate, and/or biological agents. 
2. Systemic corticosteroid use in the last 6 months (excluding topical oral 
corticosteroids). 
3. Severe active or uncontrolled systemic infection, serious diseases, or medical 
conditions that may interfere with the patient’s eligibility or treatment. 
4. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension. 
5. Psychiatric disorder or any other uncontrolled condition that contraindicates 
steroid treatment. 
6. Pregnancy, lactation, or intention to become pregnant during the study period. 
7. History of allergic reactions attributed to corticosteroids. 
III) Withdrawal Criteria and Analysis 
Premature termination of the trial will occur whenever the clinical trial is terminated 
before meeting the conditions outlined in the protocol. 
Patients may be withdrawn from the study before reaching week 54 (end of follow-up) 
for any of the following reasons: 
• 
Patient Decision: Patients are free to withdraw from the study at any time 
without any penalty or impact on their disease management or subsequent 
treatments. 
• 
Pregnancy. 
• 
Serious Complications Due to Steroid Treatment. 
• 
Lack of Early Clinical Response. 
• 
Failure to Achieve Clinical and Endoscopic Remission, Steroid-Free at 
Week 8. 
• 
Clinical Worsening and Need for Rescue Treatment at the Investigator’s 
Discretion. 
• 
Major Protocol Deviation. 
 
9. TREATMENT OF SUBJECTS 
I) Treatment Definition 


Treatment Groups: 
• 
Intravenous Bolus Group: Intravenous methylprednisolone at a dose of 0.5 
g/day for 3 consecutive days, followed by oral prednisone at 60 mg/day for one 
week, then a tapering regimen (reduction of 10 mg per week until reaching a 
dose of 20 mg, followed by a reduction of 5 mg per week until complete 
discontinuation). 
• 
Oral Prednisone Group: Oral prednisone at a dose of 60 mg/day for one week, 
followed by a tapering regimen (reduction of 10 mg per week until reaching a 
dose of 20 mg, followed by a reduction of 5 mg per week). 
II) Concomitant Treatments 
For both treatment groups, the following concomitant treatments are recommended: 
• 
5-ASA Suppositories: 1g/day for the first four weeks. 
• 
Calcium and Vitamin D Supplementation: Calcium at 1000 mg/day and 
Vitamin D at 800 IU/day until corticosteroids are discontinued. 
• 
Maintenance Therapy with Mesalazine: 2-2.4 g/day after prednisone dose 
tapering to 20 mg/day (patients on 5-ASA at the time of flare-up will 
discontinue it at the study's inclusion and continue with mesalazine until the end 
of the study). Dosage modifications can be made at the investigator’s discretion 
and documented in the data collection notebook. 
Any other concomitant treatment that the patient receives during the study must be 
documented in the e-CRD. 
III) Contraceptive Methods 
Acceptable contraceptive methods for women of childbearing potential participating in 
the study include barrier methods (diaphragm or condom), intrauterine devices (IUDs), 
or sexual abstinence during the entire study duration. 
Women using hormonal contraceptives as their usual method of birth control must 
choose an additional method from those described above, as the metabolism of 
hormonal contraceptives through cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 may be affected by 
corticosteroid treatment. 
IV) Procedures for Monitoring Subject Adherence 
Intravenous methylprednisolone boluses will be administered by nursing staff. Oral 
medication will be prescribed as per usual clinical practice by the principal investigator 
or a delegated individual. 
Nursing staff responsible for intravenous administration must: 
• 
Shake the medication well to obtain a white, slightly opaque suspension. 
• 
Visually inspect the medication before and after reconstitution for any foreign 
particles and/or physical changes. 


• 
Not use the medication if there are any changes in appearance or if it has been 
frozen. 
• 
Administer the medication immediately after preparation. 
 
10. EFFICACY EVALUATION 
I) Specification of Efficacy Parameters 
Treatment will be considered effective if the patient achieves clinical and endoscopic 
remission, steroid-free, at 8 weeks and up to 54 weeks, without requiring rescue 
treatment or corticosteroids. 
The parameters used to measure efficacy will include clinical remission, endoscopic 
remission, and the need for corticosteroids or other rescue treatments. 
II) Methods and Schedule for the Evaluation, Recording, and Analysis of Efficacy 
Parameters 
i) Local Determinations 
In the Laboratory: 
Blood tests for hematological and biochemical values will be performed per usual 
clinical practice in each participating center. 
Hematological parameters: hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelets, white blood cells, and 
differential leukocyte count. 
Biochemical parameters: GOT, GPT, alkaline phosphatase, GGT, total bilirubin, 
creatinine, urea, sodium, potassium, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin, and C-
reactive protein. 
Baseline stool culture. 
Pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential without sterilization. 
In the Endoscopy Unit: 
Rectosigmoidoscopies will be performed at inclusion, at 8 weeks, and at 54 weeks. 
• 
Prior rectal and sigmoid cleansing should be conducted per the investigator's 
discretion and standard clinical practice at each center. 
• 
The procedure may be performed with or without sedation as per the guidelines 
of each Endoscopy Unit. 
ii) Central Laboratory Determinations 
During Visit 0 or 1, before administering the first corticosteroid dose, a 10 ml blood 
sample will be collected in an EDTA tube to validate corticosteroid response predictive 
markers. The sample will be sent at room temperature to the Biobank of the Institut 
d’Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), located at 
Carretera de Can Ruti. Camí de les Escoles s/n 08916, Badalona. 


During Visits (V1-V8), fecal samples will be obtained for centralized determination of 
fecal calprotectin levels, with results blinded to the treating physician. 
 
11. SAFETY EVALUATION 
Safety evaluations will be conducted in accordance with GCP standards and applicable 
regulations. The sponsor has delegated management of adverse events (AEs) recorded 
during the study to the Spanish Clinical Research Network (SCReN), responsible for 
notifying regulatory authorities (AEMPS, regional health authorities) and CEIm of 
serious and unexpected adverse reactions (SUSARs), annual reports, or other relevant 
safety information. 
I) Specification of Safety Parameters 
Adverse Event (AE) 
Any harmful incidence affecting the health of a patient or clinical trial subject treated 
with a medication, whether or not it has a causal relationship with the medication. 
Adverse Reaction (AR) 
Any harmful and unintended response to a medication. It refers to any harmful and 
unintended response to a medication, regardless of the dose administered. 
Serious Adverse Reaction (SAR) / Serious Adverse Event (SAE) 
Adverse events or reactions are considered serious if, at any dose, they result in death, 
pose a threat to the life of the subject, require hospitalization or prolong an existing 
hospitalization, cause permanent or significant disability or incapacity, or lead to a 
congenital anomaly or malformation. For reporting purposes, any suspected AE or AR 
deemed medically important will also be treated as serious, even if they do not meet the 
previous criteria, such as those that threaten the patient or require intervention to 
prevent any of the aforementioned outcomes, and any suspected transmission of an 
infectious agent through a medication. 
Levels of Intensity 
• 
Mild - Transient, without activity limitation, no medical intervention/treatment 
required. 
• 
Moderate - Some activity limitation, some assistance may be needed, requires 
minimal or no medical intervention/treatment. 
• 
Severe - Marked activity limitation, usually requires some form of assistance, 
requires medical intervention/treatment, hospitalization may be necessary. 
Causality Criteria 
The sponsor will classify adverse events based on their causal relationship with the drug 
according to the Karch and Lasagna (1977) algorithm as: 
• 
Definitive: There is a reasonable temporal sequence between the administration 
of the drug and the occurrence of the AE. This event matches the ARs described 


for the drug, improves with discontinuation of the drug, reappears upon re-
administration, and cannot be explained by alternative causes. 
• 
Probable: There is a reasonable temporal sequence between the administration 
of the drug and the occurrence of the AE. This event matches the ARs described 
for the drug, improves after treatment is interrupted, and cannot be explained by 
other alternatives. 
• 
Possible: There is a reasonable temporal sequence between the administration of 
the drug and the occurrence of the AE. This event matches the ARs described 
for the drug but may be explained by alternative causes. 
• 
Conditional or Unlikely: There is a reasonable temporal sequence between the 
administration of the drug and the occurrence of the AE. This event does not 
match the ARs described for the drug and may be explained by alternative 
causes. 
• 
Unrelated: There is no reasonable temporal sequence between the 
administration of the drug and the occurrence of the AE. This event does not 
match the ARs described for the drug and may be explained by alternative 
causes. 
For expeditious reporting, the categories "definitive," "probable," and "possible" from 
the Karch and Lasagna (1977) algorithm will be considered related, and the category 
"conditional or unlikely" will be considered unrelated. 
Determining the potential relationship to the study treatment is the responsibility of the 
principal investigator at the research site or the person designated by them. 
Serious Adverse Event (SAE) 
Any harmful incident affecting the health of a subject that, at any dose: 
• 
Requires hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, 
• 
Causes permanent or significant disability or incapacity, 
• 
Leads to a congenital anomaly or malformation, 
• 
Poses a threat to life or results in death, 
• 
Is considered medically significant. 
For reporting purposes, any suspected AE or AR deemed medically important will also 
be treated as serious, even if they do not meet the previous criteria, including medical 
events requiring intervention to prevent any of the aforementioned outcomes. Any 
suspected transmission of an infectious agent via a medication will also be considered 
serious. 
The term "life-threatening" refers to the investigator's opinion that the patient is at real 
risk of death at the time of the AE or AR; it does not refer to the hypothetical possibility 
that the AE/AR could have led to death if it had been more severe. 
It should not be confused with the term "severe," which refers to the intensity of the AE 
or AR (mild/moderate/severe). 
Serious and Unexpected Adverse Reaction (SUSAR) 
A serious adverse reaction whose nature, severity, or outcome is inconsistent with the 
reference safety information. In this case, the product information (SmPC) will be used 
as the reference. 


SAEs that meet the SUSAR criteria and are associated with blinded studies should be 
reported to Health Authorities with the open-label unblinding. 
Adverse Events of Special Interest in this Study 
Infections, events that lead to the discontinuation of the study treatment, and the 
development of diabetes mellitus or hypertension are considered of special interest. 
Expected Adverse Reactions Not Clinically Significant in this Study 
The following adverse reactions are commonly associated with the study medication in 
clinical practice. They will be recorded in the patient's medical history, but for reporting 
purposes, they will not be collected in the e-CRF unless, in the investigator's clinical 
judgment, they meet the severity criteria. 
These include the occurrence of hirsutism, moon face, acne, insomnia, weight gain, 
buffalo hump, and stretch marks. 
II) Methods and Schedule for Evaluation, Recording, and Analysis of Safety 
Parameters 
Adverse events will be recorded from the administration of the study drug until the end 
of the patient's participation in the study, whether spontaneously reported by the patient 
or detected during study visits. 
Follow-up of all ARs, SAEs, and SAREs will be conducted until resolution, 
irreversibility, or study completion, whichever occurs first. 
All ARs, SAEs, SAREs must be documented in the patient's medical history and in the 
e-CRF, except for clinically insignificant ARs described above. 
Any pregnancy occurring during the study and its outcome must be recorded and 
followed to rule out congenital anomalies or malformations. Information will be 
gathered on: 
• 
Normal birth, spontaneous or therapeutic abortion (any congenital anomaly 
detected in the aborted fetus should be documented), stillbirth, congenital 
anomaly. 
• 
Neonatal deaths within 30 days of birth. 
• 
Infant death after 30 days if the investigator suspects it is related to in-utero 
exposure to the study medication. 
• 
All infants born after fetal exposure must be followed during the first 12 months 
after delivery. 
Any exacerbation of a pre-existing disease occurring after the start of the study 
treatment is also considered an adverse event. 
Any abnormal result in laboratory tests that the investigator considers clinically 
significant and requires dose adjustment, temporary or permanent interruption of the 
study treatment, or any type of intervention or diagnostic evaluation to assess the risk to 
the patient, will be recorded as an adverse event and must be properly investigated and 
monitored. 
In the case of an SAE that must be reported to the Pharmacovigilance Unit, or a 
pregnancy case, a member of the investigator team will complete and sign the SAE or 
pregnancy notification form (see Annexes 5 and 6) and send it via fax immediately, and 


within 24 hours of knowledge of the event, to: 
 
Patricia Rodríguez Fortúnez / Mar García Saíz 
UICEC, Hospital Universitario de Canarias 
Phone: 922 678 117 
Fax: 922 677 284 
The Pharmacovigilance Unit will review the received form and, if necessary, will 
request additional information from the investigator. 
Once additional information is obtained on the SAE/pregnancy, or the event is resolved 
or unlikely to change, a follow-up report should be completed and sent, via fax, to the 
Pharmacovigilance Unit. 
Any SAE should be reported within 30 days of the last dose of medication (without time 
limit) if the investigator considers the SAE related to the study treatment (i.e., if it is an 
SARE) or if it is medically important. 
The Pharmacovigilance Unit is responsible for reporting to the AEMPS (Clinical Trials 
Area of the Subdirectorate General of Human Medicines) and the Ethics Committee all 
SAREs that occur in the study, following the procedure established by current 
legislation. 
III) Procedures for Obtaining Reports on Adverse Events and Intercurrent 
Diseases and for Recording and Communicating Them 
The maximum reporting period for a suspected SARE case will be 15 calendar days 
from the moment the sponsor becomes aware of it. 
If the suspected SARE has caused the death of the patient or put their life in danger, the 
sponsor will send the information within 7 calendar days from when they become aware 
of it and will complete the information, if possible, within the next 8 days. 
Annual safety reports, including SAREs and SAEs recorded in the study, will be sent to 
the AEMPS (Clinical Trials Area of the Subdirectorate General of Human Medicines) 
and the Ethics Committee within the timeframes established by current legislation. 
The project manager will communicate any safety information that could affect the 
safety of study subjects to the investigators as soon as possible. 
SARE information will be sent annually, in aggregate form, with a brief analysis of the 
data provided. 
Throughout the study, investigators will be informed of any safety aspects that affect 
the conduct of the clinical trial or protocol amendments related to safety. 
IV) Type and Duration of Follow-up of Subjects After Adverse Events 
If a patient experiences any disease or adverse event during the study that, by itself or 
due to requiring pharmacological treatment, may alter the disposition of any of the 
study drugs or make its administration unadvisable, the patient will be excluded from 
the study, and the cause will be detailed. If the adverse reaction is mild or moderate, 
requires treatment or not, and does not lead to discontinuation of the drug, the reaction 
will be detailed, and the study will proceed as planned. 


Notification 
Report on the corresponding data collection form (Annex 5). 
 
12. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS 
I) Description of Statistical Methods 
The statistical analysis of the clinical trial data will be carried out by the Sponsor of the 
study. 
The baseline characteristics of the patients will be analyzed using descriptive statistical 
methods according to standard practices. Categorical variables will be compared using 
the Mann-Whitney test, and continuous variables will be compared using the Student’s 
t-test. 
To evaluate the primary objective of the study, the proportions of patients in both study 
groups who achieved clinical and endoscopic remission, steroid-free at 8 weeks and 
without rescue treatment, and who maintained clinical and endoscopic remission until 
week 54 without the need for steroids or rescue treatment, will be compared using the 
Chi-squared test. Both per-protocol (PP) and intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses will be 
performed. The ITT analysis will include all randomized patients who received at least 
one dose of treatment, regardless of whether they complete the prescribed treatment 
regimen. The PP analysis will only include patients who receive the full regimen as 
defined in the protocol and those who do not complete it due to adverse events or 
treatment failure. 
The treatment of missing data necessary for the evaluation of the primary objective will 
follow non-response imputation (NRI) methodology. 
For most secondary objectives, Chi-squared tests and Student’s t-test will be used to 
compare the groups. The cumulative probabilities of relapse, steroid dependency, and 
surgery will be evaluated using Kaplan-Meier curves, and the times to relapse, steroid 
dependency, and surgery between the two study groups will be compared using the log-
rank test. Finally, association analyses for early clinical response, clinical and 
endoscopic remission at week 8, and at both week 8 and week 54 will be conducted 
using Chi-squared tests and Student’s t-test; variables that achieve a p-value ≤ 0.1 will 
be included in the logistic regression analysis. 
An interim analysis will be conducted that will evaluate only the primary objective of 
the study (the proportion of patients who have achieved clinical and endoscopic 
remission, steroid-free at weeks 8 and 54, and without corticosteroid or rescue 
treatment). This analysis will be performed once 50% of the planned sample has 
completed the study. If the upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for the treatment 
efficacy in the experimental group is lower than initially expected (40%), or if the upper 
limit of the 95% confidence interval for the observed difference between the treatment 
groups for the primary endpoint is less than expected (20%), the study may be stopped 
for futility. 
 


13. DIRECT ACCESS TO DATA/SOURCE DOCUMENTS 
I) Study Data 
This study will use an electronic data capture system. The electronic case report form 
(e-CRF) is designed to record all data required by the protocol. Data entry will be 
performed by the investigator or a designated team member, based on information 
recorded in the source documents. 
The investigator or their designee will be trained by the sponsor or their designated 
organization to use the e-CRF. 
All clarifications or corrections in the e-CRF will be made by the investigator or a team 
member designated by them. 
Monitors will ensure that the e-CRFs are correctly completed according to the source 
documents. The investigator will ensure that all data collected in the e-CRF matches the 
information from the source documents. 
II) Data Management 
The sponsor or the organization designated by them will be responsible for managing 
and storing the study data. 
Data management includes: 
• 
Data Transfer: Data will be transferred from the e-CRF to the study database. 
• 
Data Validation: Data will be validated according to a data validation plan. As 
a result of this validation process, some data may require modifications. In such 
cases, a "query" will be generated and must be answered by the investigator. In 
some cases outlined in the validation plan, certain obvious modifications may 
not require the investigator's approval, but a list of all such modifications will be 
provided to the investigator at the end of the study. 
At the end of the study, once the validation process for all study data is 
completed, the database will be considered finalized and reliable. At this point, 
the database will be closed and transferred to the person designated by the 
sponsor for the final statistical analysis. 
14. QUALITY CONTROL AND ASSURANCE 
I) Responsibilities of Clinical Trial Participants 
Before the study, patients will be provided with both oral and written information about 
the study design, objectives, and potential risks. If they agree to participate, they must 
sign an informed consent form, with the understanding that they can withdraw at any 
time and for any reason. 
Patients will be instructed on the necessity of strictly following the instructions of the 
investigators. They will be informed of the need to contact the investigators if any 
incidents arise during the study, with clear instructions on how to do so during the 
outpatient phase of the study. 
II) Protocol Deviations 
When a deviation from the protocol occurs, it will apply only to the affected patient. 
The investigators present in such circumstances will fully document the deviation and 
the reason in the case report form. If the deviation relates to inclusion/exclusion criteria, 
the investigators will contact the clinical monitor by phone to inform them of the 
deviation. 


III) Major Deviations from the Protocol or GCP Guidelines 
A major deviation from the protocol or from Good Clinical Practice (GCP) is any 
deviation that could significantly affect: 
• 
The physical or mental safety and integrity of the trial subjects, 
• 
The scientific value of the trial. 
If a major deviation from the protocol or GCP is suspected, the sponsor or the 
organization designated by them should be contacted as soon as possible. 
All major deviations from the protocol or GCP will be reported to the Health 
Authorities as required by current legislation. 
 
15. ETHICAL, DEONTOLOGICAL, AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS 
I) General and Specific Standards for Investigators 
The Principal Investigator will ensure that this study is conducted in accordance with 
the Protocol, the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, the ICH Guidelines for Good 
Clinical Practice (GCP), and in compliance with applicable legislation. The protocol, 
informed consent, patient information sheet, and all related documents will be submitted 
to the Ethics Committee for Clinical Research with Medicinal Products (CEIm), the 
Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS), and, if applicable, to any 
other Regulatory Body that requires written approval in accordance with current 
legislation. 
All relevant amendments to the original approved documents will also be submitted to 
the CEIm and AEMPS and, if necessary, to other Regulatory Bodies for written 
approval, as required by law. 
At all times, the anonymity of the participants will be maintained. They will only be 
identified by the study code and their participant code. 
All study documents will be securely stored and only accessible to study team members 
and authorized personnel. The study will comply with current data protection laws. 
Patients will not receive any financial compensation for their participation in the study. 
II) Information to the Patient and Obtaining Informed Consent 
It is the investigator's responsibility to explain to the patients, both verbally and in 
writing, in comprehensible language, the study's objectives and requirements. This 
explanation will include complete information about the nature, objectives, potential 
risks, and benefits of the study. The type of treatment and the method of patient 
assignment will also be explained. The patient will be allowed to ask any questions they 
may have and will be given time to consider their decision. Patients will be explicitly 
informed of their right to withdraw from the study at any time and of the existence of 
insurance coverage. The investigator must obtain a signed informed consent form from 
each patient, or verbal consent in the presence of a witness, prior to their inclusion in the 
study. 
The Patient Information Sheet and the Informed Consent Form models are included in 
Appendix 4. Each patient will retain a copy of both documents. 
The signed Informed Consent forms will be kept by the investigator in the study 


archive. If modifications are made according to local requirements, the new version 
must be approved by the Sponsor of the study and by the CEIm of the study. 
III) Security Measures and Data Confidentiality 
Data Confidentiality 
The information disseminated and obtained through the implementation of this study is 
considered confidential and must be treated as such at all times. The patient will be 
identified in the Case Report Form (CRF) by an identification number. All processed 
data will be identified by the patient’s number to ensure that their identity remains 
unknown to the sponsor. 
Investigators involved in the study are responsible for maintaining the identification of 
the patient codes, including full name and address, at each center for a period of 25 
years. 
Patients must be informed in writing that the results will be stored and analyzed using a 
computerized system, that local data processing laws will be fully adhered to, and their 
confidentiality will be guaranteed. 
Medical records and other information related to the patients may be accessed by the 
sponsor of the study as part of their work. The Electronic Case Report Forms and other 
study documents will be made available to Health Authorities if deemed relevant. 
However, the Case Report Forms will never be made available to third parties. 
The results of the study will be communicated at scientific meetings or publications, but 
in no case will the identity of the patients be disclosed. 
16. DATA MANAGEMENT AND RECORD ARCHIVING 
I) Archiving of Documentation 
Documentation will be archived according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) standards 
and the regulations specified in Article 21 of Royal Decree 561/1993, of April 16, 
which establishes the requirements for conducting clinical trials with medicinal 
products. 
The electronic case report forms (e-CRD) will be used to transmit all the information 
collected during the development of this study to the Health Authorities. The following 
records should be archived: patient records, source documents, e-CRDs, and the 
correspondence between the Ethics Committee and the sponsor. The investigator is 
responsible for preserving the patient identification codes and all relevant study 
information for at least 25 years after the completion or termination of the study. Patient 
medical records and other source data should be kept for the maximum period allowed 
by the hospital, institution, or private practice. 
If an investigator moves to another center, withdraws from the research, or retires, the 
responsibility for preserving the records can be transferred to another person (e.g., 
another investigator) who agrees to accept this responsibility. This transfer of 
information must be notified and agreed upon with the sponsor or principal investigator. 
In addition to the Case Report Forms, the investigator must maintain other subject 
records, which will include dates of visits and data related to vital signs, medical history 
or examinations performed, adverse events observed, and any other relevant notes. All 
this information constitutes the "original data." All data recorded in the e-CRD must be 
supported by the original data. 


The e-CRD should be kept properly updated, reflecting the most recent observations of 
the patients included in the study. 
Once the study treatment is completed, the Informed Consent will be archived with a 
copy of the completed e-CRD in the designated file, or a note will be included 
indicating where the documentation can be found. 
For each subject included in the study, the e-CRD must be completed legibly and signed 
by the Investigator. The study monitor will review the e-CRDs. 
Both the study monitor and the Health Authorities will be able to compare the e-CRD 
data with the source documents. 
II) Identification of Samples 
The study medication will be provided by the sponsor and will be labeled according to 
the recommendations of Royal Decree 1090/2015. 
III) Amendments to the Protocol 
Neither the investigator, the monitor, nor the sponsor will modify this protocol without 
first obtaining consent from the other parties involved. Any modification must be 
documented in writing. Any change in the research activity, except those necessary to 
eliminate an immediate apparent risk to the patient, must be reviewed and approved by 
the Ethics Committee (CEIm) before implementation. The sponsor must send any 
amendments to the protocol to the Health Authorities, and these modifications may 
require the review and approval of the CEIm. 
17. INSURANCE 
In accordance with Spanish Legislation (Royal Decree 1090/2015, of January 13, 2016) 
and Good Clinical Practice guidelines, this trial is covered by a liability insurance 
policy. The insurance is intended to protect against potential adverse events that may 
occur to the subjects enrolled in the trial as a result of the study medication. 
18. PUBLICATION POLICY 
The results of this clinical trial will be published in prestigious international scientific 
journals. 
19. BIBLIOGRAPHY 
1-Dignass A, Linsay J, Sturm A et al. Second European-based Consensus on the diagnosis and 
management of ulcerative colitis: current management. J Crohn Colitis 2012. 
2- Baron JH, Connell AM, Kanaghins TG, Lennard-Jones JE, Jones AP. Out-patient treatment of 
ulcerative colitis. Comparision between three doses of oral prednisone. Br Med J 1962; 18: 
441-443. 
3- Hawthorne AB, Record CD, Holdsworth MH et al. Double blind trial of oral fluticasone 
propionate vs prednisolone in treatment of active ulcerative colitis. Gut 1993; 34: 125-128. 
4- Sood A, Midha V, Kaushal V et al. Methylprednisolone acetate versus oral prednisolone in 
moderately active ulcerative colitis. Indian J Gastroenterol 2002; 21: 11-13. 


5- Rhodes JM, Robinson R, Beales I et al. Clinical trial: oral prednisolone metasulfobenzoate 
(predocol) vs oral prednisolone for active ulcerative colitis. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2008; 
27:228-240. 
6- Garcia-Planella. Garcia-Planella E, Mañosa M, Van Domselar M, et al. Long-term outcome of 
ulcerative colitis in patients who achieved clinical remission with a first course of 
corticosteroids. Dig Liv Dis 2012: 44: 206-210. 
7- Ardizzone S, Cassiontti A, Duca P et al. Mucosal healing predicts late outcome after ther first 
course of corticosteroids for newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 
2011;9: 4983-489. 
8-Elliott PR, Powell-Tuck J, Gillespie PE, et al. Prednisolone absorption in acute colitis. Gut 
1980; 21: 49–51. 
9- Berghose LM, Elliot P, Lennard-Jones J. Plasma prednisolone levels during intravenous 
therapy in acute ulcerative colitis. Gut 1982; 23 980-983. 
10- Llaó J, Navas Juan, Ruiz-Cerulla et al. Intravenous corticosteroids in moderately active 
ulcerative colitis refractory to oral corticosteroids. J Crohns Colitis 2014; 8: 1523-1528. 
11- Guidelines on renal transplantation. European association of Urology. 2010. 
12- Ponticelli C1, Glassock RJ, Moroni G. Induction and maintenance therapy in proliferative 
lupus nephritis. J Nephrol 2010; 23(1):9-16. 
13- Sood A, Midha V, Sood N et al. A prospective, open-label trial assessing dexamethasone 
pulse therapy in moderate to severe ulcerative colitis. J Clin Gastroenterol 2002; 35: 328-331. 
14- Oshitani N, Kamata N, Ooiso R, et al. Outpatient treatment of moderately severe active 
ulcerative colitis with pulsed steroid therapy and conventional steroid therapy. Dig Dis Sci 
2003; 48:1002-1005. 
15- Nagata S, Shimizu T, Kudo T et al. Efficacy and safety of pulse steroid therapy in Japanese 
pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis: A survey of the Japanese Society for pediatric 
inflammatory bowel disease. Digestion 2010;81: 188-192. 
16- Kudo T, Nagata S, Ohtani K et al. Pulse steroids as induction therapy for children with 
ulcerative colitis. Pediatrics International 2011;53: 974-979.