title: Long-term low dose ticlopidine treatment in rheumatoid arthritis: effects on serum sulphydryl levels, technetium index, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and clinical disease activity.
abstract: In 22 patients with rheumatoid arthritis oral ticlopidine 250 mg/day for 18 months induced clinical improvement, confirmed by a significant decrease in the counts of involved joint. A significant decrease was observed in the technetium index (Tc-index) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a significant increase occurred in the serum sulphydryl (SH) levels. The long-term changes in serum SH and Tc-index produced by ticlopidine may represent a specific antirheumatic activity of this platelet-inhibiting drug.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013988:Ticlopidine
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D013988:Ticlopidine