Comparison of sulfasalazine and placebo in the treatment of reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome). A department of veterans affairs cooperative study

摘要: Objective. To determine whether sulfasalazine (SSZ) at a dosage of 2,000 mg/day is effective in the treatment reactive arthritis (ReA) that has been unresponsive to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy. Methods. One hundred thirty-four patients with ReA who had failed respond NSAIDs were recruited from 19 clinics, randomized (double-blind) receive either SSZ or placebo, and followed up for 36 weeks. The definition response was based on joint pain/tenderness swelling scores physician patient global assessments. Results. Longitudinal analysis revealed improvement taking compared those which appeared 4 weeks continued through trial (P = 0.02). At end treatment, rates 62.3% 47.7% placebo treatment. Westergren erythrocyte sedimentation rate declined more than < 0.0001). Adverse reactions fewer expected mainly due nonspecific gastrointestinal complaints. Conclusion. well tolerated chronically active ReA.