title: Combination therapy with hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) alone and in combination with methotrexate (MTX) in a randomized placebo-controlled study lasting 6 months. Forty patients with rheumatoid arthritis participated in the study and were randomly assigned to two groups--20 patients were treated with HCQ (200 mg daily) and placebo, 20 patients with HCQ and MTX (7.5 mg) once a week. Patients were assessed at regular intervals of 1 month up to 6 months using six clinical and five laboratory tests and one radiological measure. All six clinical variables and two laboratory variables were favorably influenced by combination therapy during the 6-month period. HCQ alone significantly influenced only three clinical variables and none of the laboratory parameters. There was a greater number of patients without radiological progression in the combination group. There was one drop-out in combination group due to general allergic reaction; otherwise the treatment was well tolerated. The results suggest that a combination of HCQ and MTX is more potent than HCQ alone.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Rheumatology, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trnavský
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gatterová
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindusková
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Pelisková
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006886:Hydroxychloroquine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D006886:Hydroxychloroquine; D008727:Methotrexate