title: A method of comparing the toxicities of disease suppressive agents: possible application to a comparison between D-penicillamine and chloroquine.
abstract: A general method for calculating incidences of the more common adverse reactions during long-term therapy with disease suppressive agents is presented. With D-penicillamine treatment, the incidence of proteinuria rises during 6-12 months and then declines, but with aurothiomalate treatment the incidence of proteinuria and rash progressively decline. Low-dose chloroquine treatment was associated with a much lower withdrawal rate due to adverse reactions compared to D-penicillamine. However, the efficacy at mean doses of chloroquine less than 250 mg day-1 has not been formally evaluated. A formal, well-controlled trial comparing D-penicillamine, at current dosage, and of chloroquine, at low dosage, seems warranted in order to place the usefulness of D-penicillamine in perspective.
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate; D002738:Chloroquine; D010396:Penicillamine