[The comparative efficacy of slow-acting (basic) preparations in psoriatic arthritis]

Overall 126 patients with verified and clinically active psoriatic arthritis (PA) were subjected to a randomized study of the efficacy of chrisanolum (Chr), sulfasalicylic drugs (SSD) (sulfasalazine and salazopyridazine) and methotrexate (MT) as compared to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). The treatment that lasted for a year was completed by 77 patients: in the group on NSAID, by 31, on Chr by 15, on SSD by 15, and on MT by 16. In the remainder, the treatment was discontinued because of side effects. The best clinical effect was recorded in patients on Chr. The improvement was observed in 73% of the patients, with a significant effect being attained in 60%. In the groups on SSD and MT, the improvement was observed in 80 and 69%, respectively. However, noticeable improvement was only recorded in 20 and 19%. SSD turned out more effective than MT. in the group on NAID, the improvement was ascertained but in 35% of the patients, with noticeable one being attained in 6%. According to Pearson's criterion chi 2, the results of the treatment with NAID alone were less potent than in the group given Chr (p < 0.001) and SSD (p < 0.05). The differences between the effect of the treatment with NAID and MT appeared nonsignificant (p > 0.1). Therefore, according to the diminution of the clinical efficacy in PA, the basic drugs may be distributed in the following way: Chr, SSD, MT. The side-effects in the group on NAID were. recorded in 37% of cases, in the group on Chr in 53%, on SSD in 33%, and on MT in 55%. This means that SSD were tolerated best of all.