Improved functional outcome in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis treated with intramuscular gold: results of a five year prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is a relation between disease duration and functional outcome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with intramuscular sodium aurothiomolate (gold) for five years.


METHODS
440 patients with RA were enrolled in a prospective trial of gold treatment. Initial demographic details were recorded. Disease activity was assessed at yearly intervals using a combination of clinical (pain score, Ritchie articular index, duration of morning stiffness) and laboratory (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein) parameters. Change in functional status was assessed using the health status questionnaire (HAQ). Patients were stratified according to disease duration at outset (group 1 = 0-2 years n = 106, group 2 = > 2-5 years n = 93, and group 3 = > 5 years n = 235).


RESULTS
There were no significant differences between the groups at outset. A total of 160 patients completed five years of treatment (group 1 n = 44 (42%), group 2 n = 37 (40%), and group 3 n = 79 (34%)). Patients in group 1 had a significantly lower HAQ from year 1 to year 5 with a mean improvement of 30% at the end of the study (p < 0.001). Neither group 2 nor group 3 had a significant change in their HAQ at study end. There were significant improvements in all other variables (p < 0.05) in each group apart from pain in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with early RA have a larger reversible component to their HAQ. Only patients with disease duration of up to two years have a longlasting improvement in their functional ability after starting intramuscular gold treatment.
Munro
R
R
Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.
Hampson
R
R
McEntegart
A
A
Thomson
E A
EA
Madhok
R
R
Capell
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D006052:Gold Sodium Thiomalate