Intramuscular methylprednisolone is superior to pulse oral methylprednisolone during the induction phase of...

In a randomized double-blinded placebo-controlled trial, 41 patients with RA starting on i.m. sodium aurothiomalate (SAT) therapy were randomized to receive three doses of either 500 mg methylprednisolone (MP) orally and a placebo injection or 120 mg of i.m. depot methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) and oral placebo tablets at 4-weekly intervals. Disease activity was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) of pain, grip strength (GS), tender joint count (JC), and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ). Laboratory assessment was by haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and ESR. A composite index of Disease Activity score (IDA) was constructed using all six measurements. The group receiving i.m. MPA showed greater improvement when compared with the group receiving oral MPA. These changes were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for ESR (weeks 2, 6, 8, 10, 12), VAS (week 4, 6, 8), JC (weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) and HAQ (weeks 2, 8, 10). Statistically significantly (P < 0.05) greater improvement in Hb was seen throughout all time points in favour of the group treated with i.m. MPA. Using the IDA score to summarize the results, patients treated with i.m. MPA had better disease remission from weeks 2-12. In all measures, except Hb, no statistically significant difference between the two groups was seen by 16 weeks. We conclude that 120 mg i.m. depot MPA is more effective at inducing improvement in disease activity than 500 mg of oral MPA in RA patients starting on SAT therapy.