Statistics
PD
All repeatedly measured PD endpoints were summarized (n, mean, SD, min, and max values) according to treatment and time. Repeatedly measured continuous PD endpoints were analyzed using a mixed model analysis of covariance with fixed factor treatment, time, and treatment by time, with a random factor subject as a covariate. The baseline for whole blood stimulation was the pre-prednisolone/placebo treatment measurement. A summary table of the analysis results per variable was generated with estimates of the difference of the different contrasts and a back-transformed estimate of the difference in percentage for log-transformed parameters, 95% confidence intervals (in percentage for log-transformed parameters), Least Square Means (geometric means for log transformed parameters), and the p-value of the contrasts. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS for Windows V9.4 M6 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA).