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Outcome of Second Line Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Overview
Journal Ann Rheum Dis
Specialty Rheumatology
Date 1994 Dec 1
PMID 7864689
Citations 5
Authors
D R Porter
I McInnes
J Hunter
H A Capell
Affiliations
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Abstract

Objectives: To study the functional outcome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who tolerate second line drug therapy for five years.

Methods: We enrolled into prospective controlled trials, 190 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who tolerated 'disease modifying' antirheumatic drug therapy for five years. Demographic data were recorded. Disease activity was measured every six months for two years and annually thereafter, using clinical and laboratory variables. Patient function was measured using the modified Health Assessment Questionnaire. The change in each variable was analysed using paired Wilcoxon tests.

Results: Patient function improved significantly compared with baseline. The improvement was maximal after one to two years, and thereafter function started to decline slowly. After five years of treatment the patients' function was still significantly better than before treatment had started. There were highly significant improvements in all variables measured to assess disease activity, which remained well controlled throughout the five year period.

Conclusion: Good control of disease activity and improved function can be achieved long term in approximately 30% of RA patients treated with injectable gold, sulphasalazine or penicillamine.

Citing Articles

[Drug therapy of rheumatoid arthritis].

Arndt U, Rittmeister M, Moller B Orthopade. 2003; 32(12):1095-103.

PMID: 14655006 DOI: 10.1007/s00132-003-0560-9.

Does sulphasalazine cause drug induced systemic lupus erythematosus? No effect evident in a prospective randomised trial of 200 rheumatoid patients treated with sulphasalazine or auranofin over five years.

Gordon M, Porter D, Capell H Ann Rheum Dis. 1999; 58(5):288-90.

PMID: 10225813 PMC: 1752876. DOI: 10.1136/ard.58.5.288.

Low dose desensitisation does not reduce the toxicity of sulphasalazine in rheumatoid arthritis.

McInnes I, Porter D, Murphy E, Thomson E, Madhok R, Hunter J Ann Rheum Dis. 1996; 55(5):328-30.

PMID: 8660109 PMC: 1010172. DOI: 10.1136/ard.55.5.328.

Rheumatology.

Bradlow A, David J BMJ. 1995; 310(6980):637-40.

PMID: 7703753 PMC: 2549012. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.310.6980.637.

Sulfasalazine. A review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rains C, Noble S, Faulds D Drugs. 1995; 50(1):137-56.

PMID: 7588084 DOI: 10.2165/00003495-199550010-00009.

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