Objective: To retrospectively evaluate whether oral glucocorticoid (GC) administration can be tapered or discontinued over a 2-year observation period in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) undergoing a stable oral GC treatment, without deterioration in the disease status.
Methods: Methotrexate (MTX) and prednisolone (PSL) dosages were increased and decreased, respectively, to the maximum extent possible. Concomitant biological or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) were used as required. Changes in PSL and MTX use and disease status were evaluated at baseline (BL), year-1, and year-2.
Results: Thirty-six patients were enrolled (median age, 65.4 years; disease duration, 7.1 years). The proportion of patients using PSL decreased over 2 years (100-13.9%, p < .0001). While no change was observed in the proportion of patients using MTX, the average administered dose increased at year-1 (p = .06). Moreover, b/tsDMARDs were administered in nine patients (two in year-1, seven in year-2). The Clinical Disease Activity Index remission rate increased from 25.0% to 38.9%. Serious adverse events were identified in two patients.
Conclusions: Oral GC administration was discontinued without deterioration in the rheumatoid arthritis disease control.
Keywords: Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs); glucocorticoids (GCs); methotrexate (MTX); rheumatoid arthritis (RA); tapering.