Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Different Dosages of Cortisone Compared to Placebo in Rheumatoid Arthritis
CORRA
Comparison of the Efficacy and Safety of Two Different Starting Dosages of Prednisolone in Early Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: a Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial
2 other identifiers
interventional
395
1 country
25
Brief Summary
Although cortisone is widely used in the treatment of patients with early rheumatoid arthritis, the best dosage is not known. Therefore we will compare two standard prednisolon starting dosages and placebo in the treatment of patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis on the background of the established therapy with methotrexate. In total 450 patients will be included into the study. Two different treatment arms starting with 10 or 60 mg of prednisolone, and one placebo arm. Duration of intervention is 12 weeks. In parallel, all patients start medication with methotrexate, usual dosage 15 mg/week. Primary efficacy endpoint is progression of radiographic damage after one year compared to baseline. Safety monitoring is performed.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for phase_3
Started Jan 2014
Longer than P75 for phase_3
25 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
November 19, 2013
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 4, 2013
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 1, 2014
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
March 1, 2018
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
September 1, 2019
CompletedApril 10, 2020
April 1, 2020
4.2 years
November 19, 2013
April 8, 2020
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Progression of radiographic damage after one year as quantified by the van der Heijde modification of the Sharp score (SHS). Determined at baseline and after one year.
15 sites in each hand and wrist and six joints in each foot are examined for joint space narrowing on a scale of 0 to 437: 0 indicates no narrowing, 1 represents minimal narrowing, 2 indicates loss of 50% of the joint space, 3 indicates loss of 75% of the joint space, and 4 represents complete loss of the joint space. The erosions are counted individually, usually at 16 sites in each hand and wrist and six sites in each foot, with a maximum score of 5 given for a destroyed hand or foot joint. For joints in the feet, the van der Heijde version of the Sharp scoring system has a maximum score of 10 for a destroyed joint
52 weeks
Secondary Outcomes (3)
Percentage of patients in remission
12 weeks, 24 weeks, 52 weeks
Changes of functional capacity
Baseline, 12 weeks, 52 weeks
Patient's assessment of disease activity
Baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks, 52 weeks
Study Arms (3)
Prednisolone 10
EXPERIMENTALPrednihexal (Prednisolon), daily oral tablet, 10 mg during week one to four, 7,5 mg during week five to eight. Finally 5 mg for four weeks.
Prednisolone 60
EXPERIMENTALPrednihexal (Prednisolon), daily oral tablet, 60 mg during the first week, weekly tapering: 40 mg, 20mg, 15mg, 10mg, 7,5mg. 7,5mg continued for one more week. Finally 5 mg for four weeks
Placebo
PLACEBO COMPARATORdaily oral tablet
Interventions
To compare two standard p.o. GC starting dosages and the non-use of GCs in the treatment of patients with early active RA on the background of the established 'anchor' therapy with methotrexate (MTX).
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis based on expert opinion according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2009 criteria (Hawker 2009)
- disease duration \< 3 years
- active disease: disease activity score (DAS) 28 erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (Prevoo et al 1995) \> 4 plus ≥ 3 swollen joints
You may not qualify if:
- Prior treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) (except for hydroxychloroquine or sulfasalazine or methotrexate during the last four weeks before screening)
- Clinically relevant comorbidity:
- concurrent liver disease (ALT \> 2 times upper limit of normal),
- active hepatitis B or C viral infection,
- renal disease (creatinine clearance \< 30 ml/minute),
- clinically relevant haematological disease due to the judgement of the rheumatologist,
- uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,
- uncontrolled arterial hypertension,
- relevant immunodeficiency incl. HIV-infection,
- clinically significant pulmonary fibrosis,
- history of malignant melanoma,
- complicated or refractory gastrointestinal ulcers,
- presence or history of severe infections,
- uncontrolled increased intraocular pressure,
- pregnancy or planned pregnancy,
- +2 more criteria
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Prof. Dr. rer. nat. H.J. Trampischlead
- Ruhr University of Bochumcollaborator
Study Sites (25)
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bielefeld
Bielefeld, 33617, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bocholt
Bocholt, 46397, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Bochum
Bochum, 44787, Germany
Rheumaticon Internistische Schwerpunktpraxis Immunologie, Rheumatologie, Osteologie JosefCarrée Bochum
Bochum, 44791, Germany
Rheumapraxis Dortmund
Dortmund, 44137, Germany
MVZ Dr. Kretzmann und Kollegen
Dortmund, 44147, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Dortmund
Dortmund, 44263, Germany
Rheumapraxis Duisburg
Duisburg, 47057, Germany
Rheumapraxis Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen, 45891, Germany
Internistische und rheumatologische Praxis Gladbeck
Gladbeck, 45964, Germany
Facharztzentrum Hagen
Hagen, 58089, Germany
Orthopädisch-rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis
Hattingen, 45525, Germany
Rheumapraxis Hattingen
Hattingen, 45525, Germany
Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet
Herne, 44649, Germany
Rheumapraxis Herne
Herne, 44652, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Lingen
Lingen, 49808, Germany
Rheumapraxis am EVK
Lippstadt, 59555, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Marl
Marl, 45768, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Minden
Minden, 32425, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis MĂ¼nster
MĂ¼nster, 48143, Germany
Rheumapraxis Oberhausen
Oberhausen, 46145, Germany
Rheumapraxis Paderborn
Paderborn, 33098, Germany
Rheumazentrum Ratingen
Ratingen, 40878, Germany
Rheumatologische Schwerpunktpraxis Rheine
Rheine, 48431, Germany
Rheumapraxis Warendorf
Warendorf, 48231, Germany
Related Publications (26)
Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, Funovits J, Felson DT, Bingham CO 3rd, Birnbaum NS, Burmester GR, Bykerk VP, Cohen MD, Combe B, Costenbader KH, Dougados M, Emery P, Ferraccioli G, Hazes JM, Hobbs K, Huizinga TW, Kavanaugh A, Kay J, Kvien TK, Laing T, Mease P, Menard HA, Moreland LW, Naden RL, Pincus T, Smolen JS, Stanislawska-Biernat E, Symmons D, Tak PP, Upchurch KS, Vencovsky J, Wolfe F, Hawker G. 2010 Rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Sep;62(9):2569-81. doi: 10.1002/art.27584.
PMID: 20872595BACKGROUNDBakker MF, Jacobs JW, Welsing PM, Verstappen SM, Tekstra J, Ton E, Geurts MA, van der Werf JH, van Albada-Kuipers GA, Jahangier-de Veen ZN, van der Veen MJ, Verhoef CM, Lafeber FP, Bijlsma JW; 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 Mar 6;156(5):329-39. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-156-5-201203060-00004.
PMID: 22393128BACKGROUNDBijlsma JW, van der Goes MC, Hoes JN, Jacobs JW, Buttgereit F, Kirwan J. Low-dose glucocorticoid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: an obligatory therapy. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2010 Apr;1193:123-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.05342.x.
PMID: 20398017BACKGROUNDBoers M, Verhoeven AC, Markusse HM, van de Laar MA, Westhovens R, van Denderen JC, van Zeben D, Dijkmans BA, Peeters AJ, Jacobs P, van den Brink HR, Schouten HJ, van der Heijde DM, Boonen A, van der Linden S. Randomised comparison of combined step-down prednisolone, methotrexate and sulphasalazine with sulphasalazine alone in early rheumatoid arthritis. Lancet. 1997 Aug 2;350(9074):309-18. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(97)01300-7.
PMID: 9251634BACKGROUNDBreedveld FC, Han C, Bala M, van der Heijde D, Baker D, Kavanaugh AF, Maini RN, Lipsky PE. Association between baseline radiographic damage and improvement in physical function after treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2005 Jan;64(1):52-5. doi: 10.1136/ard.2003.017160. Epub 2004 Jul 29.
PMID: 15286005BACKGROUNDCapell HA, Madhok R, Hunter JA, Porter D, Morrison E, Larkin J, Thomson EA, Hampson R, Poon FW. Lack of radiological and clinical benefit over two years of low dose prednisolone for rheumatoid arthritis: results of a randomised controlled trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2004 Jul;63(7):797-803. doi: 10.1136/ard.2003.014050.
PMID: 15194574BACKGROUNDChoy EH, Smith CM, Farewell V, Walker D, Hassell A, Chau L, Scott DL; CARDERA (Combination Anti-Rheumatic Drugs in Early Rheumatoid Arhritis) Trial Group. Factorial randomised controlled trial of glucocorticoids and combination disease modifying drugs in early rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 May;67(5):656-63. doi: 10.1136/ard.2007.076299. Epub 2007 Sep 3.
PMID: 17768173BACKGROUNDGoekoop-Ruiterman YP, de Vries-Bouwstra JK, Allaart CF, van Zeben D, Kerstens PJ, Hazes JM, Zwinderman AH, Ronday HK, Han KH, Westedt ML, Gerards AH, van Groenendael JH, Lems WF, van Krugten MV, Breedveld FC, Dijkmans BA. Clinical and radiographic outcomes of four different treatment strategies in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (the BeSt study): a randomized, controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Nov;52(11):3381-90. doi: 10.1002/art.21405.
PMID: 16258899BACKGROUNDGrigor C, Capell H, Stirling A, McMahon AD, Lock P, Vallance R, Kincaid W, Porter D. Effect of a treatment strategy of tight control for rheumatoid arthritis (the TICORA study): a single-blind randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2004 Jul 17-23;364(9430):263-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16676-2.
PMID: 15262104BACKGROUNDGorter SL, Bijlsma JW, Cutolo M, Gomez-Reino J, Kouloumas M, Smolen JS, Landewe R. Current evidence for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with glucocorticoids: a systematic literature review informing the EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Jun;69(6):1010-4. doi: 10.1136/ard.2009.127332. Epub 2010 May 6.
PMID: 20448288BACKGROUNDHoes JN, Jacobs JW, Verstappen SM, Bijlsma JW, Van der Heijden GJ. Adverse events of low- to medium-dose oral glucocorticoids in inflammatory diseases: a meta-analysis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2009 Dec;68(12):1833-8. doi: 10.1136/ard.2008.100008. Epub 2008 Dec 9.
PMID: 19066177BACKGROUNDHoes JN, Jacobs JW, Buttgereit F, Bijlsma JW. Current view of glucocorticoid co-therapy with DMARDs in rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2010 Dec;6(12):693-702. doi: 10.1038/nrrheum.2010.179.
PMID: 21119718BACKGROUNDKirwan JR. The effect of glucocorticoids on joint destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis and Rheumatism Council Low-Dose Glucocorticoid Study Group. N Engl J Med. 1995 Jul 20;333(3):142-6. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199507203330302.
PMID: 7791815BACKGROUNDMottonen T, Hannonen P, Leirisalo-Repo M, Nissila M, Kautiainen H, Korpela M, Laasonen L, Julkunen H, Luukkainen R, Vuori K, Paimela L, Blafield H, Hakala M, Ilva K, Yli-Kerttula U, Puolakka K, Jarvinen P, Hakola M, Piirainen H, Ahonen J, Palvimaki I, Forsberg S, Koota K, Friman C. Comparison of combination therapy with single-drug therapy in early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomised trial. FIN-RACo trial group. Lancet. 1999 May 8;353(9164):1568-73. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(98)08513-4.
PMID: 10334255BACKGROUNDMouterde G, Dernis E, Ruyssen-Witrand A, Claudepierre P, Schaeverbeke T, Cantagrel A, Gaudin P, Maillefert JF, Pham T, Saraux A, Tebib J, Wendling D, Fautrel B, Le Loet X. Indications of glucocorticoids in early arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: recommendations for clinical practice based on data from the literature and expert opinion. Joint Bone Spine. 2010 Dec;77(6):597-603. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2009.12.011. Epub 2010 Jul 1.
PMID: 20594896BACKGROUNDSmolen JS, Aletaha D, Bijlsma JW, Breedveld FC, Boumpas D, Burmester G, Combe B, Cutolo M, de Wit M, Dougados M, Emery P, Gibofsky A, Gomez-Reino JJ, Haraoui B, Kalden J, Keystone EC, Kvien TK, McInnes I, Martin-Mola E, Montecucco C, Schoels M, van der Heijde D; T2T Expert Committee. Treating rheumatoid arthritis to target: recommendations of an international task force. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Apr;69(4):631-7. doi: 10.1136/ard.2009.123919. Epub 2010 Mar 9.
PMID: 20215140BACKGROUNDSmolen JS, Landewe R, Breedveld FC, Dougados M, Emery P, Gaujoux-Viala C, Gorter S, Knevel R, Nam J, Schoels M, Aletaha D, Buch M, Gossec L, Huizinga T, Bijlsma JW, Burmester G, Combe B, Cutolo M, Gabay C, Gomez-Reino J, Kouloumas M, Kvien TK, Martin-Mola E, McInnes I, Pavelka K, van Riel P, Scholte M, Scott DL, Sokka T, Valesini G, van Vollenhoven R, Winthrop KL, Wong J, Zink A, van der Heijde D. EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Jun;69(6):964-75. doi: 10.1136/ard.2009.126532. Epub 2010 May 5.
PMID: 20444750BACKGROUNDSokka T, Abelson B, Pincus T. Mortality in rheumatoid arthritis: 2008 update. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2008 Sep-Oct;26(5 Suppl 51):S35-61.
PMID: 19026144BACKGROUNDSvensson B, Boonen A, Albertsson K, van der Heijde D, Keller C, Hafstrom I. Low-dose prednisolone in addition to the initial disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis reduces joint destruction and increases the remission rate: a two-year randomized trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Nov;52(11):3360-70. doi: 10.1002/art.21298.
PMID: 16255010BACKGROUNDvan der Goes MC, Jacobs JW, Boers M, Andrews T, Blom-Bakkers MA, Buttgereit F, Caeyers N, Cutolo M, Da Silva JA, Guillevin L, Kirwan JR, Rovensky J, Severijns G, Webber S, Westhovens R, Bijlsma JW. Monitoring adverse events of low-dose glucocorticoid therapy: EULAR recommendations for clinical trials and daily practice. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Nov;69(11):1913-9. doi: 10.1136/ard.2009.124958. Epub 2010 Aug 6.
PMID: 20693273BACKGROUNDvan Everdingen AA, Jacobs JW, Siewertsz Van Reesema DR, Bijlsma JW. Low-dose prednisone therapy for patients with early active rheumatoid arthritis: clinical efficacy, disease-modifying properties, and side effects: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Jan 1;136(1):1-12. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-136-1-200201010-00006.
PMID: 11777359BACKGROUNDvan Vollenhoven RF, Cifaldi MA, Ray S, Chen N, Weisman MH. Improvement in work place and household productivity for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis treated with adalimumab plus methotrexate: work outcomes and their correlations with clinical and radiographic measures from a randomized controlled trial companion study. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2010 Feb;62(2):226-34. doi: 10.1002/acr.20072.
PMID: 20191522BACKGROUNDWassenberg S, Rau R, Steinfeld P, Zeidler H. Very low-dose prednisolone in early rheumatoid arthritis retards radiographic progression over two years: a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2005 Nov;52(11):3371-80. doi: 10.1002/art.21421.
PMID: 16255011BACKGROUNDWolfe F, Michaud K. The risk of myocardial infarction and pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic myocardial infarction predictors in rheumatoid arthritis: a cohort and nested case-control analysis. Arthritis Rheum. 2008 Sep;58(9):2612-21. doi: 10.1002/art.23811.
PMID: 18759273BACKGROUNDDachverband Osteologie e.V., DVO-Leitlinie 2009 zur Prophylaxe, Diagnostik und Therapie der Osteoporose bei Erwachsenen, Osteologie 4/2009: 304 -324.
BACKGROUNDTrampisch US, Krause D, Trampisch HJ, Klaassen-Mielke R, Baraliakos X, Braun J. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of two starting dosages of prednisolone in early active rheumatoid arthritis (CORRA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials. 2014 Sep 2;15:344. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-344.
PMID: 25181946DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Juergen Braun, MD
Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Herne/Germany
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- phase 3
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Professor Dr. rer.nat.
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
November 19, 2013
First Posted
December 4, 2013
Study Start
January 1, 2014
Primary Completion
March 1, 2018
Study Completion
September 1, 2019
Last Updated
April 10, 2020
Record last verified: 2020-04