[The efficacy of combination therapy with prednisolone (PSL) and methotrexate (MTX) on radiographic progression in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)].

A case-controlled study was performed, based on early active RA patients treated with MTX; Prednisolone (PSL) was also given in sixteen patients (PSL + MTX group) and each of them was matched for age and sex with a control who have never received PSL (MTX group). No significant differences in radiographic progression were found between the 2 groups. Analysis of radiographic parameters showed that CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and titers of serum rheumatoid factors after 6 months treatment and their integral amounts during cource were significantly high in the patients with marked radiographic progression. There was no relationship between radiographic progression and treatment with PSL. These results suggested that the indication of PSL therapy for RA is limited for patients with the poor decrease in the level of CRP, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and rheumatoid factor by MTX treatment.