title: Combination therapy of cyclosporine with methotrexate and gold in rheumatoid arthritis (2 pilot studies).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cyclosporine A (CyA) in combination with gold and methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with RA with partial response to oral MTX and 20 patients with partial response to im gold had CyA added to their regimen for 6 months, withdrawn over 2 months and the patients monitored for 4 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant improvement in joint count, joint score, joint swelling, grip strength and joint pain in patients taking the combination with no significant increase in adverse reactions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CyA in combination with gold or MTX may, over a 6 month period, increase efficacy in patients with refractory RA without significant increase in toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bensen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ludwin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gent
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects
chemical_list: D006046:Gold; D016572:Cyclosporine; D003404:Creatinine; D008727:Methotrexate