The timing of low dose glucocorticoid therapy in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of low-dose prednisolone in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) administered in the morning or at night. Thirty patients with active RA were divided randomly into two groups. For 6 months, prednisolone was administered at 02:00 am or 07:30 am. During the treatment, changes observed each month in clinical and laboratory status of patients in both groups were recorded and results were compared both within and between the groups. Significant improvements were observed in both groups in clinical and laboratory findings compared to values before treatment, beginning from first month to sixth month (p < 0.001). In comparison of results in both groups, no significant difference was obtained from first month to sixth month (p > 0.05). Low-dose prednisolone therapy in treatment of RA significantly suppresses the activity of disease beginning from the first month. This condition is kept until the sixth month. However, administration of the medication given either in the morning or at night does not affect the results of the treatment.