title: Comparison of cyclosporine and D-penicillamine for rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, double blind, multicenter study.
abstract: Ninety-two patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were entered in a randomized double blind study of 24 weeks comparing cyclosporine (initial daily dose 5 mg/kg) with D-penicillamine (initial daily dose 250 mg). The groups were well balanced in baseline characteristics. In the cyclosporine group, 10 patients stopped prematurely, one because of inefficacy. In the D-penicillamine group, 9 patients stopped prematurely, 3 because of inefficacy. The 2 antirheumatic drugs were equally effective in reducing disease activity, except for a significant (p = 0.005) decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate with D-penicillamine treatment. We conclude that under the conditions of this trial, cyclosporine can serve as an alternative to D-penicillamine for the treatment of patients with RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Deaconess Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: van Rijthoven
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dijkmans
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Thè
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Meijers
authors.forename: Z L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Montnor-Beckers
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Moolenburgh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cats
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D010396:Penicillamine