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Individual patient data meta-analysis on continued use of glucocorticoids after their initiation as bridging therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
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  • Published on:
    Correspondence on Individual patient data meta-analysis on continued use of glucocorticoids after their initiation as bridging therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

    We are submitting a correspondence in regards to the paper "Individual patient data meta-analysis on continued use of glucocorticoids after their initiation as bridging therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis" by Lotte van Ouwerkerk et al.1 published in Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 Dec 16. The study is an important contribution to the field as it aimed to investigate the effectiveness of glucocorticoids (GC) as a bridging therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The study combined data from 7 clinical trial arms that included GC bridging schedule in the initial treatment of RA, to investigate whether patients with RA can discontinue GC after GC 'bridging' and to identify factors that may affect this. The study has several strengths, such as the use of individual patient data meta-analysis which allows for a more comprehensive and detailed analysis. Additionally, the study's aim to investigate the effectiveness of GC as a bridging therapy is admirable, as it addresses an important question in the field of RA treatment2 3. However, the study also has some limitations that must be taken into account when interpreting the results. Firstly, the sample size of 1653 patients may not be representative of the general population of RA patients. This could limit the generalizability of the study's findings and may not fully capture the diversity of RA patients. Additionally, the study's short-term follow-up period of 18 months may not be enough...

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    Conflict of Interest:
    None declared.