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Table 2 Treatment arm scheme

From: A prospective, single-centre, randomised study evaluating the clinical, imaging and immunological depth of remission achieved by very early versus delayed Etanercept in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (VEDERA)

Arm 1

Dosage form

Dosage regimen

Duration

ETN

Subcutaneous

50mg weekly

Up to week 48 unless non-response or intolerance.

MTX

2.5/10mg tablets (or s.c.

if oral not tolerated)

Weeks 0-4: 15 mg weekly

Week 4: 20 mg weekly

Week 8 onwards: 25 mg weekly

For duration of study (unless

intolerance: aim for maximum

tolerated dose)

Folic Acid

5mg tablets

5mg, six days per week (not day of MTX)

For duration of study (if receiving MTX)

Arm 2

   

MTX

2.5/10mg tablets

(or s.c. if oral not tolerated)

Weeks 0-2: 15 mg weekly

Week 2 onwards: 25 mg weekly

For duration of study

(unless intolerance, aim for

maximum tolerated dose)

Folic Acid

5mg tablets

5mg six days per week (not day of MTX)

For duration of study (if receiving MTX)

SSZ

500 mg tablets

1 g twice a day

At/after week 8 if not achieving low disease activity (DAS28ESR > 3.2). Discontinuation if ETN is started at week 24.

HCQ

200mg tablets

200mg tablets

At/after week 8 if not achieving low disease activity (DAS28ESR > 3.2). Discontinuation if ETN is started at week 24.

ETN

Subcutaneous

50mg weekly

At week 24 to week 48 if not achieving remission (DAS28ESR ≥ 2.6) Thereafter continuation will be determined by physician judgement/according to national guidelines.

  1. ETN Etanercept, MTX Methotrexate, SSZ Sulfasalazine, HCQ Hydroxychloroquine