Etanercept Compared to Intraarticular Corticosteroid Injection in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Double-blind, Randomized Pilot Study

Objective To compare etanercept (anti-tumor necrosis factor-α) with intraarticular (IA) corticosteroid injections to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods Patients with RA who had persistent monoarthritis received etanercept or IA corticosteroid injections. Efficacy was compared at Weeks 4 and 24.

Results Thirty-four patients were included (8 dropped out). Mean age was 58.8 years. No difference between groups was found at Weeks 4 or 24, but both groups showed significant improvement at Weeks 4 and 24 compared to baseline.

Conclusion Etanercept and IA steroid injections resulted in significant improvement at Week 4 that persisted to Week 24. There was no significant difference in outcome between the groups.