An open study on the efficacy and safety of auranofin in treating psoriatic arthritis

An open study in Belgium assessed the clinical efficacy and safety of auranofin (AF) in treating psoriatic arthritis. The study enrolled 29 patients; median age was 46 years and median duration of disease was 5.5 years. Patients received 6 mg AF daily, given as two 3-mg tablets once a day. Concomitant therapy with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids was permitted. Efficacy of auranofin was apparent by 3 months after the start of treatment, as evidenced by improvement over baseline in number of tender joints, severity of pain, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. After 1 year of auranofin therapy there was 50% or greater improvement over baseline in these parameters in 11% to 41% of the total population, and in 19% to 69% of those who completed at least 1 year of treatment. Diarrhea was reported in 45% of patients, occurring most often during the first 6 months of therapy. Nausea occurred in 10%; abdominal pain in 7%; rash in 14%; and pruritus in 17%. Withdrawals because of adverse events totaled 4: 1 for rash, 2 for pruritus, and 1 for rash, pruritus, and purpura. Auranofin may be considered an effective and safe therapeutic alternative for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.