[The effect of an antimalarial agent (chloroquine) on acute phase reactants in patients with rheumatoid arthritis]

The effect of chloroquine on acute phase reactants and clinical features in rheumatoid arthritis patients was evaluated. The patients had also one of nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs therapy. Following acute phase reactans were evaluated: erythrocyte sedimentation rate and haptoglobin. The number of swollen and painful joints were also evaluated. All parameters were evaluated before the beginning of the therapy and each 3 months of medication during 9 months. The patients were analyzed by therapy effect and they were divided in 3 groups: all patients, only the patients who responded and the patients who did not respond on antimalarials. Assessed clinical and laboratory parameters were most improved in patients who responded on therapy. Acute phase reactants are markers of activity of illness, better CRP and less other haptoglobin and other parameters erythrocyte sedimentation rate and haemoglobin.