EFFICACY OF ADDITIVE DMARD THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED TRIAL USING BUCILLAMINE AND PLACEBO WITHMAINTENANCE DOSES OF GOLD SODIUM THIOMALATE
M. Yasuda et al., EFFICACY OF ADDITIVE DMARD THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - DOUBLE-BLIND CONTROLLED TRIAL USING BUCILLAMINE AND PLACEBO WITHMAINTENANCE DOSES OF GOLD SODIUM THIOMALATE, Journal of rheumatology, 21(1), 1994, pp. 44-50
Objective. To examine the efficacy of the addition of small doses of a
dditional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) to ongoing DMA
RD treatment [additive DMARD therapy (ADT)]. Methods. A 3-month prospe
ctive, double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study was performe
d using either 100 mg/day of bucillamine (Buc) or an inactive placebo
(P1). Two groups of 12 patients each who had experienced an insufficie
nt benefit from gold sodium thiomalate (GSTM) alone were enrolled in t
he study. Results The addition of Buc proved more beneficial than P1 r
egarding improvement in disease activity (p = 0.0032) and drug usefuln
ess (p = 0.0025). A significant within group improvement was observed
in joint swelling count, the Lansbury activity index, erythrocyte sedi
mentation rate and C-reactive protein. However, the difference in the
clinical variables between the 2 groups was minimal. Conclusion. The u
sefulness of ADT was suggested by this trial; however, further confirm
ation by additional studies is still needed.