[The potentials of a peroral gold preparation (Ridaura) in treating rheumatoid arthritis based on prospective...

Ridaura was given to 72 patients with true rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the period of 6 mos to 2 yrs. Patients with I-II degree of activity and II-III x-ray stage of RA prevailed. Extraarticular RA manifestations were detected in 79% of the patients. The efficacy of Ridaura was assessed by its effect on the indices of activity (clinical manifestations of the articular syndrome, ESR, morphological signs of rheumatoid synovitis) and progression (the rates of erosive arthritis development in the hand and foot joints, the time course of the level of the serum rheumatoid factor and RA systemic manifestations). The drug efficacy was assessed with relation to the preceding variant of a RA course by the onset of treatment and after 3, 6, 12 and 18 mos. The results obtained indicated a high clinical efficacy of the drug and the presence of its basal activity which manifested itself in a good clinical effect by a decrease in the rates of x-ray progression, a serum RF level, the expression of morphological signs of synovitis and extraarticular RA manifestations, in particular myocarditis, diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, fever, and Aschoff's nodules. The therapeutic effect of the drug was on an increase in the period over 1 year. The highest efficacy of the drug was noted in RA with persistent activity of I-II degree or with activation up to II degree. Side-effects were revealed in 19% of the patients. Good tolerance of the drug was observed in 63% of the patients with a previous history of intolerance to parenteral gold drugs.