HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE AND SULFASALAZINE ALONE AND IN COMBINATION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - A RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL

Objectives-To compare the effects of hydroxychloroquine and sulphasala zine alone and in combination in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods-A six m onth randomised, multicentre, double blind trial with three parallel g roups was performed. Ninety one outpatients with active rheumatoid art hritis were included. Monthly assessments of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, morning stiffness, number of swollen joints, a pain score, and global assessments were carried out. Radiographs of hands and wrists w ere taken before and after the trial. Results-Sixty two patients compl eted the study. The 29 withdrawals caused no evident bias, and there w as no difference in side effects among the three groups. All variables improved significantly with time. Patients treated with a combination of hydroxychloroquine and sulphasalazine responded better and faster than those treated with hydroxychloroquine alone, but there was no sta tistically significant difference between the combination treatment an d single drug treatment with sulphasalazine or between treatment with hydroxychloroquine and sulphasalazine given alone. Conclusion-The pres ent results do not support a recommendation to use a combination of hy droxychloroquine and sulphasalazine in the treatment of rheumatoid art hritis.