PMC

1a. Mean strength over time, as measured by proximal manual muscle testing (MMT) score. 1b. Mean corticosteroid dosage (mg/day) over time. Bars indicate one standard error of the mean.

3a. Mean CK level (U/mL) over time. 3b. Relationship of the mean baseline CK to the mean baseline proximal MMT score at baseline. Bars indicate one standard error of the mean.

2a. Mean strength over time, as measured by proximal manual muscle testing (MMT) score, stratified by initial corticosteroid dosage (mg/day). 2b. Mean corticosteroid dosage (mg/day) over time, stratified by initial corticosteroid dosage. 2c. The association between corticosteroid dosage and change in strength (proximal MMT score) over all 6–12 month intervals; the corticosteroid dosage associated with the maximum mean improvement in proximal MMT score was 36 mg/day. Bars indicate one standard error of the mean.