Controlled trial of clinical utility of serum salicylate monitoring in rheumatoid arthritis.
A crossover double-blind controlled trial was performed on 36 patients with rheumatoid arthritis to assess the necessity for serum salicylate monitoring in determining optimal dosage. There was no clinically or statistically significant increase in the clinical improvement of patients associated with serum monitoring but potentially toxic serum levels occurred without tinnitus when serum monitoring was not used.
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003638:Deafness / Q000139:chemically induced; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012459:Salicylates / Q000097:blood*; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000139:chemically induced
D012459:Salicylates; D001241:Aspirin