COMBINED IMMUNOMODULATING THERAPY OF RHEU MATOID-ARTHRITIS

Monotherapy with methotrexate (MT) was compared to combined therapy MT +tactivin (T) in a 2-year clinical trial including 127 patients with r heumatoid arthritis (RA). MT was given to 88 patients in a weekly dose 7.5 mg. In 39 patients this dose was given in combination with subcut aneous injections of T (100 mu g two times a week for a months, then o nce a week). Both treatments induced a significant decline in severity of arthralgia, in the number of joints with inflammation, in the leve l of C-reactive protein and in ESR. Morning stiffness and pains in the joints at palpation were achieved after MT+T combination. Side effect s were similar in both treatments.