A preliminary evaluation of hydroxyurea for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain preliminary evidence on the safety and efficacy of low dose hydroxyurea as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Five patients with active RA unresponsive to conventional therapy were entered into a 12 week, open label trial of hydroxyurea followed by a one month postdrug evaluation.


RESULTS
Three of the 4 patients completing the study had a decrease in morning stiffness and number of swollen and tender joints. All 4 patients had a decrease in pain and an increase in function as measured by a modified health assessment questionnaire. No patient had improvement in sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, or subjective measures of global well being. However, 3 of the 4 patients had disease flare after the drug was withdrawn, demonstrated by increased number of swollen and tender joints.


CONCLUSIONS
Low dose hydroxyurea may be effective in the treatment of RA, but confirmation will require further testing by a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial of patients with a broader spectrum of disease severity over a longer period of therapeutic intervention.
Section of Rheumatology, University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
L S
LS
Ehrlich
K
K
Thalji
K
K
Whitman
D A
DA
Albert
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006918:Hydroxyurea / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006918:Hydroxyurea