title: Goldsalts, levamisole and D-penicillamine as first choice slow-acting antirheumatic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis--a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: In the present study, 345 rheumatoid arthritis patients were treated using goldsalts, D-Penicillamine or levamisole as the slow-acting antirheumatic drug of first choice. Goldsalts were given to 182 patients, levamisole to 139 and D-Penicillamine to 24. At the time of the present evaluation, 83 patients were still on goldsalts (44.6%), 63 on levamisole (45.2%) and 11 on D-Penicillamine (45.9%). Adverse reactions required interruption of treatment in 64 patients on goldsalts (35.2%), in 44 on levamisole (31.7%) and in 5 on D-Penicillamine (20.8%). Inefficacy was responsible for withdrawal of 33 patients receiving goldsalts (18.1%), 30 receiving levamisole (21.6%) and 8 receiving D-Penicillamine (33.3%). The duration of treatment was 4.6 years for goldsalts, 3.6 years for levamisole and 3.6 years for D-Penicillamine. In the present analysis none of the compounds was found to have a definite advantage over the others. The rather favourable treatment continuation rates in this study can be attributed to the fact that the slow-acting antirheumatic drugs were given at an early stage of the disease, preferably before the occurrence of radiological lesions.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004112:Dimercaprol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006046:Gold / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007978:Levamisole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008667:Metalloproteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D050607:Organogold Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020005:Propanols; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds
chemical_list: D008667:Metalloproteins; D050607:Organogold Compounds; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D020005:Propanols; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D004112:Dimercaprol; D007978:Levamisole; D006046:Gold; C013394:aurotioprol; D010396:Penicillamine