[Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in chronic polyarthritis. II. Influence of drugs].

Thirty outpatients with active RA were treated with Sudoxicam, a nonsteroidal antirheumatic drug, for periods of 6-10 months. Gamma-GT, alkaline phosphatase and transaminase were estimated at 2 week intervals. During treatment, the frequently elevated values showed a significant tendency towards normality (time trend analysis). During a second drug trial with Piroxicam in 32 RA outpatients over a period of 18 months, the mean value of gamma-GT and alkaline phosphatase did not decrease significantly. With regards to liver function tests, there was no significant difference between 19 patients receiving and 13 patients not receiving simultaneous gold therapy. During gold treatment periods of 26 patients with a total dose of 3.8 g Fosfocrisolo (0.8 g Au) the mean value of gamma-GT decreased from 26 to IU/l. Cyclophosphamide treatment of 13 patients, with daily doses of 50-150 mg to a total dose auf 48 g, had no significant influence on gamma-GT and alkaline phosphatase. Our results indicate that the very frequent elevations of gamma-GT and of other liver data in RA are caused by the rheumatoid process itself and not induced by drugs.