Variants of intensification of immunosuppressive therapy of rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective. To assess influence of different treatment intensification regimens on clinico- laboratory parameters of activity and quality of life of pts with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Material and methods. 40 RA pts of group 1 received pulse-therapy with methotrexate (MT) and dexamethasone (DM), 20ptsofgroup 2 received pulse-therapy with methylprednisolone (MP) and cyclophosphane (CP). After that all pts continued treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Pts were examined at baseline, 1 and 6 months after completion of therapy intensification cycle. Results. At 1 month tender and swollen joint counts decrease in group 1 was more prominent than in group 2. After 6 months significant decrease of all disease activity measures was maintained in group 1 but not in pts received CP and MP. Conclusion. Pulse therapy with MT and DM provided more prolonged decrease of RA clinico-laboratory activity than treatment with MP and CP. Group 1 pts also showed significant increase of quality of life. None method of intensive treatment caused severe adverse events.

Keywords

• rheumatoid arthritis
• methylprednisolone
• dexamethasone
• cyclophosphane
• methotrexate
• therapy intensification