THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF BUCILLAMINE IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

In a long-term clinical study of the efficacy and safety of bucillamin e (BCL), an antirheumatic drug, 78 patients were treated with BCL from November 1991 through October 1992. These patients were unable to con tinue treatment with other DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic dru gs) and/or immunosuppressants because of side-effects and/or disease r elapse. Treatment with BCL lasted for the duration of the study in 58 patients and was discontinued in 20 because of side-effects and/or ine ffectiveness. The major side-effects were skin eruption and itching, l iver dysfunction and proteinuria. Changes in clinical status and labor atory data showed statistically significant improvement with BCL. Thes e results suggest that BCL is effective as a DMARD for uncontrollable rheumatoid arthritis (RA).