[Sulfasalazine: side effects and duration of therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
Sulphasalazine (SSZ) is now recognised to be a useful agent in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We studied SSZ toxicity (2 g/die) and duration of therapy in 102 patients with RA. Adverse events occurred in 25.4% of all patients. In all patients the reactions subsided on either discontinuation of the drug or decrease of the dose. Gastrointestinal was the most common. At 5 years of follow-up the percentage of patients treated with SSZ still on drug was 29%, the inefficacy was 40% of the total drop-out.
Mundo
A
A
Clinica Reumatologica, Università degli Studi di Ancona.
Pedone
V
V
Lamanna
G
G
Cervini
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D012460:Sulfasalazine