[Long-term therapy of rheumatoid arthritis with perclusone]

124 patients afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis were being treated with gold salts or antimalarial preparations with the addition of corticoids as well as other antirheumatic preparations. If the Lansbury-Index fell under 30% of the initial value, the therapy was interrupted, and that in 84 patients. One half of these patients were then given Perclusone (Clofezone) in the dose of 600 mg daily for 4 years. The other half of patients -- as control group-- were given various non-steroid antirheumatics, mostly acetylsalicylic acid, phenylbutazon or indomethacin in normal doses. The course of the disease of both groups was followed up clinically and the Lansbury-Index as well as the number and duration of reactivations were determined. In the group treated with Perclusone, the previously obtained remissions remained substantially more stable, only rarely reactivations ensued and their duration was then also remarkably shorter. Tolerance of Perclusone was very good, no side-effects whatsoever have been ascertained. In the group treated with other antirheumatics distinctly more frequent and longer-lasting reactivations were ascertained. Tolerance of these drugs was generally worse and they had to be changed more frequently. Perclusone has thus proved efficient as a very good stabilizing drug in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.