title: [Initial results of the clinical use of the immunostimulant bestatin (3-amino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbutyryl leucine) in patients with chronic polyarthritis].
abstract: We tested the efficacy of the immunomodulator Bestatin, which has been successfully applied in Japan, in a preliminary open study in ten patients with classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis. Patients whose arthritis was characterized by a low humoral activity showed a partial remission of the disease after six months' application of increasing doses of 10-60 mg in 48 hours. We found a significant increase in superoxide release from peripheral monocytes. Humoral parameters of inflammation such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C3a complement fraction, prostaglandin E2, and thromboxane B2 decreased. Concerning the subpopulations of lymphocytes we found a slight increase of activated T-lymphocytes and a decrease of O-cells and B-cells. The T-helper/T-suppressor ratio remained unchanged. The rheumatoid factor and the antinuclear antibodies showed no alteration under the treatment. Two weeks after withdrawal of Bestatin the improvement of the clinical and humoral parameter of the inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis vanished. No serious side effects were seen. Our results contribute to a long-term controlled study of the immunomodulator Bestatin as basic drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D004008:Diclofenac; D007930:Leucine; C012211:ubenimex
vernacular_title: Erste Ergebnisse der klinischen Anwendung des Immunstimulans Bestatin (3-Amino-2-Hydroxy-4-Phenylbutyryl-Leucin) bei Patienten mit chronischer Polyarthritis.