Lack of effect of total body irradiation in rheumatoid arthritis.
We are reporting a pilot study of total body irradiation in six patients with progressive rheumatoid arthritis, who had previously received gold and penicillamine. Radiation (150 cGy) was administered in ten fractions over 5 weeks. There was a transient pancytopenia following radiotherapy and the total peripheral lymphocyte count remained below pre-treatment levels after 6 months. There were no serious short-term adverse effects. By 6 months, there was no evidence of any change in clinical and laboratory estimates of disease activity. We feel that further studies of this regimen in intractable rheumatoid arthritis are not justified.
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000528:radiation effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000528:radiation effects; D014916:Whole-Body Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects