Sulphasalazine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis

Recent reports have found sulphasalazine to have a disease-modifying effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We report on the results of an open study of this drug. Sulphasalazine was given to 20 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (definite or classical by ARA criteria) during a period of 6 months. Response to the treatment was assessed by subjective symptoms and objectively by changes in selected clinical and laboratory parameters. After 2 to 6 months' therapy some of these measurements had improved significantly in 18 patients. Three patients went into remission by preliminary ARA criteria. The treatment was discontinued in two patients because of side effects (toxic-allergic cutaneous reactions). From these results we conclude that sulphasalazine may be a useful second-line drug in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.