[Methotrexate and salazosulfapyridine in the long-term treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].
Long term treatment of 190 cases of rheumatoid arthritis with either methotrexate or salazosulfapyridine was analyzed for their efficacy and adverse effects. Both treatment groups showed improvement of clinical symptoms, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and CRP after 1 month of treatment, while RAHA titers decreased significantly after several months. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP of salazo-sulfapyridine group, once improved, deteriorated again after 12 months of treatment, while methotrexate group showed sustained improvement for 48 months. Radiologic progression estimated according to JF Fries was significantly less in MTX group than in SASP group. Life table analysis showed that the overall probability of continuing methotrexate or salazosulfapyridine at 4 years was 63% and 55%, respectively. The main reason of treatment termination in methotrexate group was adverse effects, while that in salazo-sulfapyridine group was inefficacy.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D008727:Methotrexate