Sulphasalazine therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. A two-year study and follow-up of clinical results.
Sulphasalazine is among the many drugs in the secondary line of antirheumatic efficacy that have both immunosuppressive and auto-inflammatory properties. Twenty-six patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were treated for two years with sulphasalazine in a minimum dose of 1 g per day. Four patients presented untoward effects such as: marked physical asthenia, erythema and changes of the dysproteinemia tests which all disappeared when the drug was withdrawn. The first favourable results in the joint inflammation appeared after 4 weeks. Significant clinical and biologic changes were observed at the end of the study thus suggesting the therapeutic value of sulphasalazine in RA.
N. Gh. Lupu Institute of Internal Medicine, Bucharest, Romania.
C
C
Georgescu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003348:Cortisone / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004351:Drug Resistance; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D012074:Remission Induction; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D003348:Cortisone