title: Treatment of the seronegative spondyloarthropathies with sulfasalazine.
abstract: Three patients with reactive arthritis and 2 with ankylosing spondylitis resistant to therapy with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were treated with enteric coated sulfasalazine in an open trial. Significant toxicity was not observed; 1 patient discontinued sulfasalazine because of gastrointestinal symptoms. As a group, statistically significant improvement was observed in 50 foot walk time, morning stiffness, and hemoglobin concentration. One patient went into complete clinical remission, 2 improved, 1 showed no change, and 1 worsened. Asymptomatic colonic inflammation was found in each of 4 patients examined before beginning therapy. Changes in bowel pathology did not parallel changes in joint symptoms. Sulfasalazine may be a safe and useful therapeutic modality in patients with chronic reactive arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015212:Inflammatory Bowel Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate
chemical_list: D012460:Sulfasalazine; D013669:Technetium Tc 99m Medronate