 All patients initially treated with systemic corticosteroids alone: optional IV methylprednisolone pulse 15 mgkg at treatment start followed by oral prednisone 1 mgkgday according to a tapering schedule. Treating physicians allowed to treat minor relapses with corticosteroids without referring the patient for randomization, as long as the prednisone dose did not exceed 0.5 mgkg for 1 month. 