Methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis

Article Abstract:

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, debilitating disease of the joints. Drugs used to treat the symptoms of arthritis are assessed according to their ability to improve the function and quality of a patient's physical, emotional and social life. Methotrexate is a type of chemotherapy shown to improve the symptoms of arthritis. To see if methotrexate improves the quality of life, 95 arthritis patients received treatment and 94 (control) patients did not. The quality of life was assessed by questionnaires that evaluated the abilities of all patients to perform certain activities, as well as to perform those activities they themselves considered most important. The five most important activities affected by arthritis were walking, doing housework, lifting, getting dressed and sewing. Patients receiving treatment had slightly higher results on the standard questionnaire. Overall, there was an 11 percent improvement physically, a five percent improvement socially and a six percent emotional improvement during treatment. When individual needs were assessed, the patients receiving methotrexate had a 29 percent improvement as assessed by direct physical examination of the joints. The type of assessment scale used in this study may prove useful in clinical trials measuring the efficacy of methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Measurement, Quality of life, Methotrexate, Arthritics

---

Outcome and prognostic indicators in early scleroderma (systemic sclerosis): early undifferentiated connective tissue disease, part 3

Article Abstract:

Heart and kidney involvement among patients with scleroderma appear to be associated with rapid progression of the disease and diminished survival. Scleroderma is characterized by hardening and thickening of the skin and may involve degeneration of various body organs. Some patients live with scleroderma for 10 to 20 years while others develop a rapidly progressive form resulting in early organ failure and death. Of 47 patients with early scleroderma, 15 died within five years. Five of them died within one year of developing symptoms. Initially, 80% of the patients who eventually died had at least one heart abnormality compared with 41% of the survivors. Initial heart rate averaged 93 beats per minute among those who eventually died compared with 79 beats per minute among survivors. There was no difference in skin involvement between the two groups. Kidney abnormalities occurred in 40% of those who died and in 16% of the survivors. Ongoing inflammation and immune system activation were also more common among those who died.

Health aspects, Risk factors, Systemic scleroderma, Scleroderma (Disease)

---

Minocycline in rheumatoid arthritis: a 48-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Article Abstract:

Minocycline may be a safe and effective treatment for mild or moderate rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic disease characterized by inflammation of the joints. Minocycline is an antibiotic drug similar to tetracycline. Of 219 adults with rheumatoid arthritis, 109 received minocycline treatment and 110 received a placebo for 48 weeks. By the end of the study, 54% of patients in the minocycline group had less joint swelling versus 39% of those in the placebo group. Joint tenderness was also improved in more patients taking minocycline (56%) than in those taking placebo (41%). Joint tenderness and swelling continued to improve throughout the study in patients taking minocycline, whereas improvements in the placebo group leveled off halfway through. Laboratory tests also showed that minocycline lowered the degree of disease activity compared with placebo. There were no serious side effects reported.

Antibiotics, Tetracyclines

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Response to treatment with the leukocyte-derived immunomodulator IMREG-1 in immunocompromised patients with AIDS-related complex: a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
• Abstracts: Treatment of travelers' diarrhea: ciprofloxacin plus loperamide compared with ciprofloxacin alone: a placebo-controlled, randomized trial

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.