title: Effects of cyclosporin on joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis. The Italian Rheumatologists Study Group on Rheumatoid Arthritis.
abstract: According to the most recent literature, few antirheumatic drugs can claim disease-controlling properties over the anatomical joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A small number of studies have favored one or another of the available agents, in particular parenteral gold salts, sulphasalazine and methotrexate, but the evidence regarding their efficacy is not convincing when analysed using methodological criteria known to be important in evaluating radiologic evidence of joint damage. The radiologic results in long-standing RA patients have shown that CsA may be of benefit in reducing disease progression. Data from the second year of a clinical trial designed to compare the disease-controlling, anti-rheumatic properties of CsA with those of conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in early RA support the hypothesis that CsA may be useful in delaying the appearance of new joint erosion.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatic Disease Unit, Universit of Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Ferraccioli
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Bambara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferraris
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perpignano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porzio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Accardo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattara
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zoppini
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benucci
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Ostuni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pasero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001175:Arthrography; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine