title: [Bishofit in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate effectiveness of a natural mineral bishofit in combined treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 71 RA patients with minimal activity of the pathological process and articular disorders of stage II. Bishofit was used in baths and compresses. 33 AR patients of group 1 took bishofit baths (14 procedures) and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), 27 RA patients of group 2 were treated with bishofit compresses (14 procesures) and NSAID, 11 patients of group 3 (controls) received NSAID alone. The effect of the treatment was assessed on the basis of clinical data, the length of the affected joint circumference, antitryptic blood activity, activity of malate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes, plasmin, plasminogen, ESR, sialic acids.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Bishofit-treated patients showed earlier (by 5-6 days) and greater (by 25-35%) decrease of the pain, joint and inflammatory indices as well as duration of morning stiffness, length of the affected joint circumference and joint mobility, improvement of the tests' results. A response and an appreciable response to combined therapy with bishofit were achieved in 62.9-63.6% of cases vs 45.5% in the control group. Bishofit baths and compresses did not differ considerably by therapeutic efficacy.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Zborovskiĭ
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Martem'ianov
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Sidorova
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Mozgovaia
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zborovskaia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D001458:Bandages; D001494:Baths; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015636:Magnesium Chloride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; C072517:bishofit; D015636:Magnesium Chloride