Sulphasalazine in ankylosing spondylitis. A radiological, clinical and laboratory assessment.
In a 12-month double-blind placebo-controlled trial, the effect of sulphasalazine was studied in 40 patients with ankylosing spondylitis. The treatment group showed significant improvement in pain, stiffness, sleep disturbance (p less than 0.05), finger/floor distance, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, orosomucoid and IgA levels (p less than 0.01). There was improvement in sleep disturbance (p less than 0.05), finger/floor distance and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p less than 0.01) in the placebo group. Sulphasalazine did not retard radiological progression as measured either by plain X-ray or computerised tomographic scans. Multiple analysis of variance did not show a significant difference in disease activity indicators between the 2 groups.
Staffordshire Rheumatology Centre, Haywood Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, England.
H G
HG
Taylor
E J
EJ
Beswick
P T
PT
Dawes
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001799:Blood Sedimentation / Q000187:drug effects; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D009961:Orosomucoid / Q000378:metabolism; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006242:Haptoglobins; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D009961:Orosomucoid; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein