Oral steroids as bridge therapy in XXXX @entity1 starting with parenteral gold. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

@entity1 @entity229 @entity13394 @entity309
The efficacy of oral @entity229 as bridge therapy in @entity309 ( @entity309 ) was studied. Forty @entity1 starting @entity13394 were randomized to receive either @entity229 or placebo for 18 weeks. The dose was 10 mg/day in the first 12 weeks, 7.5 mg/day in weeks 13 and 14, 5 mg/day in weeks 15 and 16, and 2.5 mg/day in weeks 17 and 18. @entity1 were followed for 44 weeks. We found that disease activity was significantly lower in the @entity229 group as early as week 1 and continued up to week 12. Response to @entity229 was noticed in 60% of the @entity1 . After tapering @entity229 , a rebound deterioration was noticed at weeks 20 and 24 in 58% of the responders. No significant differences in X-ray progression were found between the two groups. We concluded that oral @entity229 (10 mg/day) significantly reduces short-term disease activity in 60% of @entity1 with active @entity309 . The rebound deterioration after tapering the dose means that bridge therapy with @entity229 using this dose-reduction scheme is not recommended.
