Short term effects of corticosteroid pulse treatment on disease activity and the wellbeing of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis

Objective-To investigate the short term effects of corticosteroid pulse tre atment (CPT) ability, and psychological wellbeing of patients with active r heumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods-Of 66 consecutive patients with active RA admitted for CPT, erythro cyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein level, haemoglobin concentratio n, platelet count, duration of early morning stiffness, a joint score, and grip strength were assessed before and after CPT. Additionally, a health st atus questionnaire was administered. Effects of CPT were expressed as befor e to after intervention effect sizes and, to place them in perspective, com pared with the (long term) effect sizes of disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment in a historical contrast group of patients with earl y RA. Results-Statistically significant improvement from baseline in disease acti vity, physical functioning, and psychological wellbeing after CPT was seen, with moderate to large effect sizes, resembling the effects seen after DMA RD treatment. Neither depression nor psychosis occurred during and after CP T. Conclusion-Qualitatively and quantitatively the short term effects of CPT i n patients with active established RA on various dimensions of health statu s resemble the long term effects of conventional DMARD treatment in patient s with early RA. Psychological disorders do not seem to be common short ter m side effects of CPT in patients with active RA.