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as: marked physical asthenia, erythema and changes of the dysproteinemia tests which all disappeared when the drug was withdrawn.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.
Georgescu
C
C
N. Gh. Lupu Institute of Internal Medicine, Bucharest, Romania.
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