title: Effect of antimalarial treatment on circulating immune complexes in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The relationship between the effect of chloroquine treatment on circulating immune complexes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was determined by the 125I Clq binding assay. Three groups were studied: (a) 20 patients treated daily for 6 months with chloroquine sulphate 250 mg plus prednisone 7.5 mg and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAID); (b) 20 patients not taking antimalarials but treated with prednisone and NSAID; (c) 41 controls. Results suggest that chloroquine sulphate therapy induced a marked decrease of immune complexes in patients with RA, an effect not observed with treatment by prednisone and NSAID only.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000378:metabolism*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000962:Antimalarials; D002738:Chloroquine; D011241:Prednisone