It is important to control the disease of pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis to ensure the fetal and maternal health. Frequent disease flare can increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including abortion, premature delivery and low birth weight. However, there is no scientific and standardized treatment strategy for RA during pregnancy. About 50% of RA patients need treatment during pregnancy. Tumor necrosis inhibitor (TNFi) is an effective treatment, which can significantly improve the symptoms of RA during pregnancy. However, in order to avoid placental metastasis, TNFi is usually stopped in early pregnancy. Certolizumab pegol (CZP) is a PEGylated, Fc-free TNFi, which does not bind FcRn and is consequently not expected to undergo FcRn-mediated transfer across the placenta. Therefore, it can not transfer through placenta into FcRn and is approved to treat RA during pregnancy. This study focuses on patients with RA who consider pregnancy. We compared the efficacy, safety and economy of CZP and glucocorticoids combined with hydroxychloroquine by a randomized controlled trial.

In this study, a randomized controlled study was conducted to compare the efficacy, safety and economy of CZP and glucocorticoids combined with hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of RA patients who consider pregnancy. Informed consent must be obtained for the patients to be screened.

Random method: central random.

Blinding method: assessor and data analyst blindness.

Follow-up: every 4 week.

First endpoint: 24 week.

Second endpoint: 52 week.

Safety endpoint: 24 weeks postpartum.

Missing data: core data related to treatment and disease activity are not allowed to be missing, and other data are supplemented by the last observation value.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. A diagnosis of RA, as defined by 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria
2. DAS 28∙ESR<2.6 under the treatment of DMARDs
3. Subjects consider pregnancy, but not pregnant yet
4. Participant expects to continue CZP therapy throughout pregnancy and for at least 24 weeks postpartum
5. Participant has a negative interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) or tuberculin skin test (TST) within the prior 6 months, and there has been no change in the study participant's clinical status, or social, family, or travel history. Participants with documented Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine and at low risk for tuberculosis (TB) may enroll without having a TB test performed

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Participant has any medical or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, could jeopardize or would compromise the study participant's ability to participate in this study
2. Participant is not permitted to enroll into the study if she meets any of the following TB exclusion criteria:(1) Known active TB disease; (2) History of active TB involving any organ system; (3) Latent TB infection; (4) High risk of acquiring TB infection; (5) Current nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection or history of NTM infection (unless proven to be fully recovered)
3. Study participant is taking a prohibited medication or has taken a prohibited medication
4. Live vaccine(s) within 1 month prior to Screening, or plans to receive such vaccines during the study
5. Study participant has any clinically significant pregnancy-related clinical or test abnormality, as judged by the investigator
6. Study participant had a positive or indeterminate interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) or tuberculin skin test (TST) at Screening. In case of indeterminate result, a retest is allowed if time permits; 2 results of indeterminate require exclusion of the study participant

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Assessor and data analyst blindness. To avoid bias, physicians who assess disease activity will be blinded. Participants are required not to discuss their treatment allocation with physicians at each visit. The success of the blind method will be judged by requiring the assessors to determine the treatment allocation of participants after each visit. When the database is locked, the statistician will carry on the data analysis in the hidden of allocation.