EFFECTS OF CYCLOSPORINE ON JOINT DAMAGE IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

According to the most recent literature, few antirheumatic drugs can c laim disease-controlling properties over the anatomical joint damage i n rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A small number of studies have favored on e or another of the available agents, in particular parenteral gold sa lts, sulphasalazine and methotrexate, but the evidence regarding their efficacy is not convincing when analysed using methodological criteri a known to be important in evaluating radiologic evidence of joint dam age. The radiologic results in long-standing RA patients have shown th at CsA may be of benefit in reducing disease progression. Data from th e second year of a clinical trial designed to compare the disease-cont rolling, anti-rheumatic properties of CsA with those of conventional d isease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in early RA support the hypothesis that CsA may be useful in delaying the appearance of new j oint erosion.