OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is any advantage in adding hydroxychloroquine to intramuscular gold therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a suboptimal response to gold after 6 months of treatment. METHODS: Prospective double blind placebo controlled study at the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow. Patients--440 patients with RA began intramuscular gold therapy. One hundred forty-two patients with a suboptimal response at 6 months were randomized to receive additional treatment with hydroxychloroquine (400 mg/day) or placebo, and followed for a further 6 months. Outcome measures were erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Ritchie articular index, grip strength, visual analog pain score, duration of morning stiffness, health assessment questionnaire, and rate of side effects. RESULTS: There was no difference in outcome in terms of efficacy or toxicity. CONCLUSION: There is no justification for using a combination of intramuscular gold and hydroxychloroquine in patients with RA with a partial response to gold.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: To determine if there is any advantage in adding hydroxychloroquine to intramuscular gold therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with a suboptimal response to gold after 6 months of treatment. METHODS: Prospective double blind placebo controlled study at the Centre for Rheumatic Diseases, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow. Patients--440 patients with RA began intramuscular gold therapy. One hundred forty-two patients with a suboptimal response at 6 months were randomized to receive additional treatment with hydroxychloroquine (400 mg/day) or placebo, and followed for a further 6 months. Outcome measures were erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, Ritchie articular index, grip strength, visual analog pain score, duration of morning stiffness, health assessment questionnaire, and rate of side effects. RESULTS: There was no difference in outcome in terms of efficacy or toxicity. CONCLUSION: There is no justification for using a combination of intramuscular gold and hydroxychloroquine in patients with RA with a partial response to gold.
Authors: M Dougados; B Combe; A Cantagrel; P Goupille; P Olive; M Schattenkirchner; S Meusser; L Paimela; R Rau; H Zeidler; M Leirisalo-Repo; K Peldan Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 1999-04 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Hilary A Capell; Rajan Madhok; Duncan R Porter; Robin A L Munro; Iain B McInnes; John A Hunter; Malcolm Steven; Asad Zoma; Elaine Morrison; Martin Sambrook; Fat Wui Poon; Rosemary Hampson; Fiona McDonald; Ann Tierney; Neil Henderson; Ian Ford Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2006-08-22 Impact factor: 19.103