Steroid showdown: can a tiny daily dose keep a rare disease at bay?

NCT ID NCT01940094

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at 159 people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a rare disease that causes inflammation of blood vessels. Participants were randomly assigned to either stay on a low 5 mg daily dose of prednisone or slowly stop it over six months. The goal was to see which approach better prevented disease flares without causing too many side effects.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

prednisone (a steroid drug)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help doctors decide whether a low maintenance dose of prednisone is better than stopping it entirely to prevent disease flares in people with granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

What could go wrong

This is a completed phase 3 trial, but the results may not apply to all patients. Prednisone has known side effects like weight gain, high blood sugar, and increased infection risk, and the benefit of a very low dose may be small.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for GRANULOMATOSIS WITH POLYANGIITIS are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis granulomatosis with polyangiitis vasculitis

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

  • Cleveland Clinic

    Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States

  • Mayo Clinic

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • Mount Sinai Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3L9, Canada

  • St. Joseph's Healthcare

    Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

  • University of Kansas Medical Center

    Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

  • University of Pittsburgh

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261, United States

  • University of Utah

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States