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CORTODOSEA Randomized, Controled, Open Label Trial: Comparison Between Two Standardized Corticosteroids Tapering, Respectively Short (North American) and Long (European), in Giant Cell Arteritis

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What is being tested

Corticosteroids for Systemic Use

Drug
Who is being recruted

Arteritis+17

+ Autoimmune Diseases

+ Brain Diseases

Over 50 Years
See all eligibility criteria
How is the trial designed

Treatment Study

Phase 3
Interventional
Study Start: November 2020
See protocol details

Summary

Principal SponsorUniversity Hospital, Caen
Study ContactHubert De BOYSSON, MDMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Study start date: November 5, 2020

Actual date on which the first participant was enrolled.

Treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) relies on the use of glucocorticoids (GC), with a very good clinical response at treatment initiation. However, relapses at GC tapering are frequent. GCA population is elderly, frequently over 80 years, and is especially affected by GC-related side effects, that increase proportionally with treatment duration. Thus, metabolic, musculo-skeletal, infectious or neuro-psychiatric complications are frequent during prolonged GC use. After GC introduction, gradual tapering is scheduled, provided the disease remains clinically and biologically controlled. In France, guidelines recommend tapering GC on an 18-24 months timeframe, while other countries, such as the USA, usually taper GC over a shorter period, often 6-8 months. Few comparative data exist on the relapse rates or the GC-related side effects in both settings. In this prospective multicenter study, two GC-tapering schedules are planned: patients in one arm (short treatment) will be treated for 28 weeks, while patients in the second arm will be treated for 52 weeks. Each starting dose of GC and tapering doses will be adapted to body weight. The primary endpoint is to compare the remission rate without relapse at W52 between the two groups and the secondary endpoints are: 1) cumulative GC doses at W52; 2) GC-related side effects and 3) number of relapses (minor and severe) in both arms at W52. The results of this study might considerably modify future French clinical practice if investigators confirm that a shorter GC treatment does not significantly impact the disease course while reducing GC-related side effects.

Official TitleA Randomized, Controled, Open Label Trial: Comparison Between Two Standardized Corticosteroids Tapering, Respectively Short (North American) and Long (European), in Giant Cell Arteritis
NCT04012905
Principal SponsorUniversity Hospital, Caen
Study ContactHubert De BOYSSON, MDMore contacts
Last updated: January 28, 2026
Sourced from a government-validated database.Claim as a partner

Protocol

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Design Details

150 patients to be enrolled

Total number of participants that the clinical trial aims to recruit.

Treatment Study

These studies test new ways to treat a disease, condition, or health issue. The goal is to see if a new drug, therapy, or approach works better or has fewer side effects than existing options.



Eligibility

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria: person's general health condition or prior treatments.
Conditions
Criteria

Any sex

Biological sex of participants that are eligible to enroll.

Over 50 Years

Range of ages for which participants are eligible to join.

Healthy volunteers not allowed

If individuals who are healthy and do not have the condition being studied can participate.

Conditions

Pathology

ArteritisAutoimmune DiseasesBrain DiseasesCardiovascular DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesCerebrovascular DisordersImmune System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesPathologic ProcessesRecurrenceSkin DiseasesPathological Conditions, Signs and SymptomsGiant Cell ArteritisVascular DiseasesVasculitisSkin and Connective Tissue DiseasesSkin Diseases, VascularAutoimmune Diseases of the Nervous SystemVasculitis, Central Nervous SystemDisease Attributes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 50 years * Patient with temporal arteritis giant cell match 2 of the 4 criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) that given : * a temporal artery biopsy compatible with a diagnosis of CAG or * an abdominal thoracic aortitis diagnosed by Angio CT, MR angiography or PET scanner or * Echo Doppler compatible with a diagnosis of CAG * Oral corticosteroid treatment started up to 14 days, the initial dose is less or equal to 1 mg / Kg * Patient wo has given its written consent Patient affiliated with a social security Exclusion Criteria: Subjects checking one of the criteria for non-inclusion may be eligible to participate in the research. These criteria may include: * Early treatment of CAG disease with a dose\> 1 mg / kg whatever the duration * Corticosteroids already started over 14 days * Giant arteritis cell on relapse * dementia syndrome * No compliant patient * Patients who live more than 150 km from the investigation center * Person under judicial protection, guardianship * Hypersensitivity to prednisone or any of its excipients * Infection requiring an systemic treatment * Evolutive viroses (Hepatitis, Herpes, varicella-zoster virus) * Immunization with live vaccines / mitigated during the 8 weeks preceding inclusion * Pregnancy, breastfeeding women or women of childbearing potential not using contraception

Study Plan

Find out more about all the medication administered in this study, their detailed description and what they involve.
Treatment Groups
Study Objectives

2 intervention groups are designated in this study

This study does not include a placebo group 

Treatment Groups

Group I

Active Comparator
Corticosteroid taper over 52 weeks

Group II

Experimental
Corticosteroid taper over 28 weeks

Study Objectives

Primary Objectives

Secondary Objectives

Study Centers

These are the hospitals, clinics, or research facilities where the trial is being conducted. You can find the location closest to you and its status.
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CORTODOSE | A Randomized, Controled, Open Label Trial: Comparison Between Two Standardized Corticosteroids Tapering, Respectively Short (North American) and Long (European), in Giant Cell Arteritis | PatLynk