title: Rheumajecta and vasolastine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis--the results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of a complementary treatment.
abstract: The so called "enzymatic preparations" Rheumajecta and Vasolastine (R & V) belong to the complementary treatments. The preparations have been used for many years in the treatment of patients with rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the Netherlands and other countries of Europe, although a proper study showing efficacy was never performed. Therefore a double-blind, placebo-controlled, modified cross-over trial during two periods of 3 months was performed in 34 patients with RA. They were allocated at random to R & V or to placebo injections, all intramuscular. After 3 months of therapy each patient could opt for cross-over in the event of lack of subjective improvement. Clinical assessments including Ritchie's articular index, grip strength, the DUTCH-AIMS questionnaire, ESR and CRP were performed. R & V did not prove to be more effective than placebo. No serious side-effects were seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Rasker
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: van Riel
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Gribnau
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: van de Putte
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002374:Catalase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008049:Lipase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008084:Lipoxygenase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013430:Sulfate Adenylyltransferase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013466:Sulfurtransferases / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; C023681:Rheumajecta; C029007:vasoelastine; D002374:Catalase; D008084:Lipoxygenase; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D013430:Sulfate Adenylyltransferase; D013466:Sulfurtransferases; D008049:Lipase