Androgens as adjuvant treatment in postmenopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the possible beneficial effect of androgens in postmenopausal women with active rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
107 women participated in a double blind placebo controlled trial to evaluate the effect of 50 mg testosterone propionate intramuscularly every two weeks for one year.


RESULTS
An improvement in ESR, Dutch health assessment questionnaire, and pain was noted. In addition, 21% of patients treated with testosterone fulfilled the ACR improvement criteria after one year, versus only 4% of the placebo group. The treatment was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
Testosterone may improve the general wellbeing of postmenopausal women with active rheumatoid arthritis.
Booji
A
A
Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Hospital Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Biewenga-Booji
C M
CM
Huber-Bruning
O
O
Cornelis
C
C
Jacobs
J W
JW
Bijlsma
J W
JW
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017698:Postmenopause; D011374:Progesterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone