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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Apr 1.
Published in final edited form as: Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Apr;64(4):546–553. doi: 10.1002/acr.20695

Table 1.

Questions and results considered during the consensus meeting.

Question Method Responses* Votes
1-initial vote What criteria should be used to decide that a patient has improved and a taper can proceed? Sticker vote Physician judgment based on core set (improvement/unacceptable toxicity) 50
Strength improved or normal 23
1-final vote What criteria should be used to decide that a patient has improved and a taper can proceed? Hand vote Patient improved or unacceptable toxicity (defined as strength improved or normal AND enzymes improved or normal AND rash stable/improved/absent AND additional criteria consistent improvement) 25
Physician judgment based on core set improvement or unacceptable toxicity 1
2-initial vote When should first taper of prednisone be attempted (assuming patient has met improvement criteria)? Sticker vote 4 weeks 60
When 1st meets improvement criteria 48
2-final vote When should first taper of prednisone be attempted (assuming patient has met improvement criteria)? Hand vote 4 weeks 20
When 1st meets improvement criteria 4
3-initial vote At what interval should prednisone be tapered? Sticker vote Every 2 weeks from 2-0.5mg/kg, then every 4 weeks 43
Ever 2 – 4 weeks 25
Every 4 weeks, then when less than 0.2 mg/kg every 8 weeks 24
Every 2 weeks 20
3-second vote At what interval should prednisone be tapered? Sticker vote Ever 2 weeks at 2-0.5mg/kg, then q4 wks 66
Every 2 weeks 29
Every 4 weeks at 2.0-0.2 mg/kg, then every 8 weeks 28
3-final vote At what interval should prednisone be tapered? Hand vote Every 2 weeks at 2-0.5mg/kg, then q4 wks 24
Disagree 3
4-initial vote By what dose should prednisone be tapered at each taper step? Sticker vote 20% of current dose 56
10% of current dose 38
0.25mg/kg x4, 0.125mg/kg x4, then 0.05mg/kg x4 to 5mg, then off 15
5 When should children come off corticosteroids? No voting 4–8 months n/a
>12 months n/a
6 What criteria should be used to decide that a patient is unchanged? Hand vote Not improved and not worse (physician judgment 19
Physician judgment 1
Physician and parent judgment (combined) 1
7-initial vote What should be done when a patient meets criteria for being unchanged (assuming patient is not in remission)? Sticker vote Hold dose for 4 weeks, then escalate therapy if still unchanged 45
Physician judgment 38
7-final vote What should be done when a patient meets criteria for being unchanged (assuming patient is not in remission)? Hand vote Hold dose for 4 weeks, then escalate therapy if still unchanged 14
Physician judgment 3
*

only responses with substantial support