Effects of sulphasalazine on faecal flora in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a comparison with penicillamine.
Twenty-six out-patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were randomly allocated to treatment with sulphasalazine (SASP) or D-penicillamine (DPA). Faecal samples were collected from all patients at 4-weekly intervals and examined for changes in faecal flora during treatment. Both treatment groups showed substantial clinical improvement. In the SASP-treated group this was accompanied by significant falls in counts of Cl. perfringens and E. coli. No such changes were seen in the DPA-treated group. These results suggest that SASP's efficacy in RA may be related to its antibacterial properties.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D012460:Sulfasalazine; D010396:Penicillamine