Clinical trial NCT02000336: Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Different Dosages of Cortisone Compared to Placebo in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Official title: Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Two Different Starting Dosages of Prednisolone in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Keywords: radiographic damage
rheumatoid arthritis
Lead sponsor: Ruhr University of Bochum
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Ruhr University of Bochum
First posted: 2013-12-04
Enrollment: 395
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Although cortisone is widely used in the treatment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis, the best dosage is not known. Therefore we will compare two standard prednisolon starting dosages and placebo in the treatment of patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis on the background of the established therapy with methotrexate. In total 450 patients will be included into the study. Two different treatment arms starting with 10 or 60 mg of prednisolone, and one placebo arm. Duration of intervention is 12 weeks. In parallel, all patients start medication with methotrexate, usual dosage 15 mg/week. Primary efficacy endpoint is progression of radiographic damage after one year compared to baseline. Safety monitoring is performed.

Detailed description: BACKGROUND: Although glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in the treatment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the best dosage for GCs, related to both, efficacy and safety, is not known.

OBJECTIVE: To compare two standard p.o. GC starting dosages and the non-use of GCs in the treatment of patients with early active RA on the background of the established 'anchor' therapy with methotrexate (MTX).

METHODS: Randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial with two treatment arms (starting with 10 or 60 mg of p.o. prednisolone (P), tapered down to 5 mg P per day within 8 weeks) and one placebo arm, each arm comprising 150 patients. Duration of intervention is 12 weeks. In parallel, all patients start medication with MTX, usual dosage 15 mg/week. Primary efficacy endpoint is progression of radiographic damage after one year compared to baseline. Secondary endpoints are: percentage of patients in remission, changes of functional capacity etc. Safety monitoring is performed.

The analysis is performed in three hierarchical steps. First step is an analysis of covariance to compare the group with an initial P dosage of 60 mg (V60) and the placebo group (Pl). In case of a statistical significant result (α = 0.05), a comparison of the group starting with 10 mg P (V10) and Pl will be done in a second step (α = 0.05). In case of superiority of V10 versus Pl, a third step will be a non-inferiority test for V10 versus V60 (α = 0.025).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis based on expert opinion according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2009 criteria (Hawker 2009)
* disease duration \< 3 years
* active disease: disease activity score (DAS) 28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (Prevoo et al 1995) \> 4 plus ≥ 3 swollen joints

Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (except for hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine or methotrexate during the last four weeks before screening)
* Clinically relevant comorbidity:
* concurrent liver disease (ALT \> 2 times upper limit of normal),
* active hepatitis B or C viral infection,
* renal disease (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/minute),
* clinically relevant haematological disease due to the judgement of the rheumatologist,
* uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,
* uncontrolled arterial hypertension,
* relevant immunodeficiency incl. HIV-infection,
* clinically significant pulmonary fibrosis,
* history of malignant melanoma,
* complicated or refractory gastrointestinal ulcers,
* presence or history of severe infections,
* uncontrolled increased intraocular pressure,
* pregnancy or planned pregnancy,
* non-compliance,
* age \< 18 years

Primary outcomes:
measure: Progression of radiographic damage after one year as quantified by the van der Heijde modification of the Sharp score (SHS). Determined at baseline and after one year.
timeFrame: 52 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of patients in remission
timeFrame: 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 52 weeks
measure: Changes of functional capacity
timeFrame: Baseline, 12 weeks, 52 weeks
measure: Patient's assessment of disease activity
timeFrame: Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 52 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bielefeld
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bielefeld
city: Bocholt
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bocholt
city: Bochum
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bochum
city: Bochum
country: Germany
facility: Rheumaticon Internistische Schwerpunktpraxis Immunologie, Rheumatologie, Osteologie JosefCarrée Bochum
city: Dortmund
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Dortmund
city: Dortmund
country: Germany
facility: MVZ Dr. Kretzmann und Kollegen
city: Dortmund
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Dortmund
city: Duisburg
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Duisburg
city: Gelsenkirchen
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Gelsenkirchen
city: Gladbeck
country: Germany
facility: Internistische und rheumatologische Praxis Gladbeck
city: Hagen
country: Germany
facility: Facharztzentrum Hagen
city: Hattingen
country: Germany
facility: Orthopädisch-rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis
city: Hattingen
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Hattingen
city: Herne
country: Germany
facility: Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet
city: Herne
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Herne
city: Lingen
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Lingen
city: Lippstadt
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis am EVK
city: Marl
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Marl
city: Minden
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Minden
city: Münster
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Münster
city: Oberhausen
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Oberhausen
city: Paderborn
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Paderborn
city: Ratingen
country: Germany
facility: Rheumazentrum Ratingen
city: Rheine
country: Germany
facility: Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Rheine
city: Warendorf
country: Germany
facility: Rheumapraxis Warendorf
Study officials:
affiliation: Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne/Germany
name: Juergen Braun, MD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
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