Low-Dose Prednisone Inclusion in a Methotrexate-Based, Tight Control Strategy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Athanase D. Protogerou, Evangelia Zampeli, Petros P. Sfikakis
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2012)

Letters21 August 2012Low-Dose Prednisone Inclusion in a Methotrexate-Based, Tight Control Strategy for Early Rheumatoid ArthritisAthanase D. Protogerou, MD, Evangelia Zampeli, MD, and Petros P. Sfikakis, MDAthanase D. Protogerou, MDFrom Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.Search for more papers by this author, Evangelia Zampeli, MDFrom Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.Search for more papers by this author, and Petros P. Sfikakis, MDFrom Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-157-4-201208210-00019 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail TO THE EDITOR:Rheumatoid arthritis is associated with increased mortality, and most premature deaths are attributable to cardiovascular disease (1). Both chronic active inflammation, as a result of inadequate disease control, and the increased burden of traditional cardiovascular risk factors in these patients contribute to the acceleration of atherosclerosis (1–3). Bakker and colleagues (4) clearly showed the beneficial effect of a low to moderate dose of prednisone (10 mg/d) on tight control for RA when incorporated into treatment during the first 2 years after disease onset. Patient age at baseline was about 53 years, and none had serious cardiac disease ...References1. Peters MJ, Symmons DP, McCarey D, Dijkmans BA, Nicola P, Kvien TK, et al. EULAR evidence-based recommendations for cardiovascular risk management in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69:325-31. [PMID: 19773290] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Giles JT, Post WS, Blumenthal RS, Polak J, Petri M, Gelber AC, et al. Longitudinal predictors of progression of carotid atherosclerosis in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2011;63:3216-25. [PMID: 21965129] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Zampeli E, Protogerou A, Stamatelopoulos K, Fragiadaki K, Katsiari CG, Kyrkou K, et al. Predictors of new atherosclerotic carotid plaque development in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a longitudinal study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2012;14:R44. [PMID: 22390577] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Bakker MF, Jacobs JW, Welsing PM, Verstappen SM, Tekstra J, Ton E, et al; Utrecht Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort Study Group. Low-dose prednisone inclusion in a methotrexate-based, tight control strategy for early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med. 2012;156:329-39. [PMID: 22393128] LinkGoogle Scholar5. Evans MR, Escalante A, Battafarano DF, Freeman GL, O'Leary DH, del Rincón I. Carotid atherosclerosis predicts incident acute coronary syndromes in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2011;63:1211-20. [PMID: 21305526] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Athanase D. Protogerou, MD; Evangelia Zampeli, MD; Petros P. Sfikakis, MDAffiliations: From Medical School, University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece.Disclosures: None disclosed. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoLow-Dose Prednisone Inclusion in a Methotrexate-Based, Tight Control Strategy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Marije F. Bakker , Johannes W.G. Jacobs , Paco M.J. Welsing , Suzanne M.M. Verstappen , Janneke Tekstra , Evelien Ton , Monique A.W. Geurts , Jacobine H. van der Werf , Grietje A. van Albada-Kuipers , Zalima N. Jahangier-de Veen , Maaike J. van der Veen , Catharina M. Verhoef , Floris P.J.G. Lafeber , and Johannes W.J. Bijlsma , on behalf of the Utrecht Rheumatoid Arthritis Cohort Study Group* Low-Dose Prednisone Inclusion in a Methotrexate-Based, Tight Control Strategy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Johannes W.G. Jacobs , Marije F. Bakker , and Johannes W.J. Bijlsma Low-Dose Prednisone Inclusion in a Methotrexate-Based, Tight Control Strategy for Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Theodore Pincus , Isabel Castrejon , and Yusuf Yazici Metrics 21 August 2012Volume 157, Issue 4Page: 299-300KeywordsAtherosclerosisCardiovascular disease riskLipid profilesMedical risk factorsMortalityObesityRetrospective studiesRheumatoid arthritisSafetySafety studies ePublished: 21 August 2012 Issue Published: 21 August 2012 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2012 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...