EFFECTS OF ORAL ENZYMES IN COLLAGEN-II INDUCED ARTHRITIS IN MICE

Three groups of randomly selected mice were immunized and boosted with Type II collagen; age-matched nonimmunized controls were maintained B eginning on day 28, groups were given 120 mg/kg oral Phlogenzym(R) twi ce daily, 40 mg/kg oral ibuprofen twice daily or no therapy. Swelling of the footpads, measured with a tensioning caliper; generally appeare d on day 21, and was identical in the three immunized groups until day 31; subsequently, mice given Phlogenzym(R) or ibuprofen had significa ntly less swelling than the untreated mice, with no difference between the two therapies. At sacrifice, there was severe joint degeneration in the untreated groups at 42 and 49 days, with ankylosis in 3 of 8 un treated mice examined al 49 days. Joint degeneration was moderate at d ay 42 and moderate to severe at day 49 in the ibuprofen-treated mice, but mild al day 42 and generally mild at day 49 in Phlogenzym(R)-treat ed mice (chi-squared = 5.8, p<0.05). Computer morphometry revealed an average cartilage thickness of 720 mu m in normals, 630 mu m in Phloge nzym(R)-treated diseased mice, 380 mu m in ibuprofen-treated diseased mice, and 290 mu m in untreated diseased mice (F = 9.8, p<0.01). Radio graphic scores correlated with the pathologic scores. We conclude that Phlogenzym(R) protects articular cartilage significantly better than ibuprofen in this murine model of rheumatoid arthiritis, despite equal antiinflammatory potency.