title: Comparative toxicity of total lymphoid irradiation and immunosuppressive drug treated patients with intractable rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Outcomes were compared between consecutive patients who had received either total lymphoid irradiation (TLI) or immunosuppressant treatment for intractable rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There were 33 TLI and 32 immunosuppressive recipients; all patients had failed standard therapy. Average followup from the start of therapy was 2.7 years for TLI and 5.9 years for immunosuppressive recipients. Final disability levels were the same in both groups; mortality was equal in both groups as well. There were more hospitalizations for infections in the TLI group and the infecting organisms tended to be staphylococcus or gram negative organisms. Apart from infections, there were more adverse effects reported in the immunosuppressive therapy group.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D002699:Chlorambucil; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D001379:Azathioprine; D008727:Methotrexate