title: Samarium-153-EDTMP in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: We examined the preliminary safety and efficacy of intravenous samarium-153-EDTMP (Sm-153) in the treatment of refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In an open-label sequential group comparison of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mCi/kg, Sm-153 was administered as a single intravenous infusion to 24 patients with refractory disease. Across treatment doses, the frequency of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 20% responses was 25%, 29%, 25%, and 33% at 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. Expected significant declines in absolute neutrophil count, hemoglobin, and platelet counts were observed with nadirs seen between 2-4 weeks. Sm-153, at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mCi/kg, is well tolerated but minimally effective in the treatment of refractory RA as measured using ACR response criteria.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Mikuls
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kahn
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Utrie
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Koehnke
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Goeckeler
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Saag
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012016:Reference Values; D012493:Samarium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011868:Radioisotopes; D012493:Samarium