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Treatment of giant cell arteritis using induction therapy with high-dose glucocorticoids - A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized prospective clinical trial ARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATISM Mazlumzadeh, M., Hunder, G. G., Easley, K. A., Calamia, K. T., Matteson, E. L., Griffing, W. L., Younge, B. R., Weyand, C. M., Goronzy, J. J. 2006; 54 (10): 3310-3318

Abstract

Glucocorticoid (GC) therapy for giant cell arteritis (GCA) is effective but requires prolonged administration, resulting in adverse side effects. The goal of the current study was to test the hypothesis that induction treatment with high-dose pulse intravenous (IV) methylprednisolone permits a shorter course of therapy.Twenty-seven patients with biopsy-proven GCA were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to receive IV methylprednisolone (15 mg/kg of ideal body weight/day) or IV saline for 3 consecutive days. All patients were started on 40 mg/day prednisone and followed the same tapering schedule as long as disease activity was controlled. The numbers of patients with disease in remission after 36, 52, and 78 weeks of treatment and taking

View details for DOI 10.1002/art.22163

View details for Web of Science ID 000241260800032

View details for PubMedID 17009270