• A S Potapova, A E Karateev, E Y Polishchuk, E S Filatova, V N Amirdzhanova, and A M Lila.
• Nasonova Research Institute of Rheumatology.
• Terapevt Arkh. 2024 Jun 3; 96 (5): 465470465-470.

BackgroundClinical guidelines for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recommend reducing the use of glucocorticoids (GCs) due to the high risk of associated complications.AimTo determine the frequency of GC cancellations and dose reductions in real clinical practice, while taking into account active RA therapy.Materials And MethodsThe study group consisted of 303 patients with RA reliable according to ACR/EULAR criteria (women 79.9%, age 52.8±13.3, disease duration 9 [4; 16] years, DAS-28-CRP 4.9±1.0, RF seropositivity 77.4%, ACPA seropositivity 70.3%), who were prescribed or changed therapy with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) or Janus kinase inhibitors (iJAK) due to disease exacerbation and ineffectiveness of previous treatment. All patients initially received GC (7.7±3.8 mg/day equivalent of prednisolone). After adjustment of therapy, 42.9% of patients received methotrexate, 27.6% leflunomide, 2.5% sulfasalazine, hydroxychloroquine, or a combination with an Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, 63.7% bDMARDs, and 7.2% iJAK. The need for GC intake was assessed by a telephone survey conducted 6 months after the start of follow-up.ResultsTelephone survey was possible in 274 (90.4%) persons. There was a significant decrease in pain intensity (numerical rating scale, NRS 0-10) from 6.3±1.4 to 4.3±2.4 (p<0.001), fatigue (NRS) from 6.7±2.3 to 5.2±2.1 (p<0.001), and functional impairment (NRS) from 5.4±2.1 to 3.9±2.0 (p<0.001). A positive PASS index (symptom status acceptable to patients) was noted in 139 (50.7%) patients. GC cancellation was noted in 19.7%, dose reduction in 25.9%, maintaining the same dose in 42.7%, and dose increase in 11.7%.ConclusionAgainst the background of intensive RA therapy, including combination of DMARDs with bDMARDs or iJAK, complete withdrawal or reduction of GC dose was achieved in less than half (45.6%) of patients after 6 months.

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