title: [Sulphasalazine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China: a cross-sectional study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the medication status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to analyze the clinical use of sulphasalazine (SSZ) and the  adverse effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1 096 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with RA were investigated in 21 hospitals all over China from July 2009 to  December 2010, including gender, age of onset, clinical manifestations, as well as the clinical characteristics and medication status of 160 RA patients who  received SSZ therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the group of 160 patients who received SSZ, the male-to-female ratio was 1:7, The average age at onset was  (46.1±15.0) years, while the average course was (9.9±7.8) years. The average dose of sulphasalazine was (1.87±0.52) g/d for a mean duration of (26.3± 14.6) months. Only 17% (27/160) of the patients received SSZ monotherapy. Methotrexate (63.1%), leflunomide (36.2%) and hydroxychloroquine (18.1%)  were most commonly used combination drugs. And 36.2% (58/160) of the patients used the two-drug combination of methotrexate plus sulphasalazine .In  this group, 41.9% (67/160) once used SSZ but withdrew for adverse events and other reasons, while 17.5% (28/160) withdrew for adverse events, of which  the most common were gastrointestinal (8.8%), skin (3.8%) and liver toxicity (3.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sulphaszlazine is not a common choice in the RA  therapeutics in China, and the average dose of SSZ is lower than the standard dose of 2 to 3 g/d . The adverse events of SSZ are common; however, there  are few severe adverse events or threat to life,SSZ is relatively safe in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, China.
authors.forename: Tian
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authors.forename: Zhen-bin
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authors.forename: Jing
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authors.forename: Bin
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authors.lastname: Jia
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authors.lastname: Zhang
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authors.forename: Shu-ling
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authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jin-ying
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authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mei-qiu
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authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Xiao-min
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authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dan
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authors.lastname: Ke
authors.forename: Shao-xian
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authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Cong
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authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiu-yan
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authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hao
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authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ci-bo
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authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming
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authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Pei
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authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Xing-fu
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authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-jun
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-yuan
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authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong
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authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: Yin
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mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007555:Isoxazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D012460:Sulfasalazine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007555:Isoxazoles; D012460:Sulfasalazine; D000077339:Leflunomide; D008727:Methotrexate