A prospective five-year comparison of treatment which included penicillamine with that excluding penicillamine in early rheumatoid arthritis. The Multicentre Trial Group.
Seventy-three patients with early, active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were randomly allocated either to a group that received penicillamine or to a control group from which penicillamine was barred, any other second-line drug being permitted. Most (87%) of the controls received chrysotherapy at some stage. Clinical, serological and radiographic progress was observed for at least 5 years. Outcome after 5 years for the 27 remaining in the penicillamine group was compared with that for the 23 surviving controls. Both groups had improved clinically but deteriorated radiographically, with much individual variation. A subset of patients, mostly seronegative, who were radiographically normal at the outset remained so, regardless of treatment. Penicillamine was as effective as the control group treatments in relieving synovitis and as ineffective in arresting radiographic deterioration.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006046:Gold / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D011897:Random Allocation
D006046:Gold; D010396:Penicillamine