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Treatment of Intractable Rheumatoid Arthritis With Combined Cyclophosphamide, Azathioprine, and Hydroxychloroquine

Treatment of Intractable Rheumatoid Arthritis With Combined Cyclophosphamide, Azathioprine, and... Cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine sulfate were prescribed for 31 patients (26 women and five men) with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to conventional therapy. Maintenance drug dosages (mean ±SD) were as follows: cyclophosphamide, 30±24 mg/day; azathioprine, 74±44 mg/day; and hydroxychloroquine sulfate, 210±92 mg/day. Disease suppression began in 30 patients within three to 24 months (mean, nine months). Results after 43 months (range, 12 to 102 months) were as follows: 16, complete remission; seven, near remission; seven, partial disease suppression; one, no response. None remained in prolonged remission without some form of therapy. Treatment was discontinued in three patients because of pulmonary infection (two) or thrombocytopenia (one). Four patients had five malignant neoplasms (surgical cures) before therapy (two breast, one colon, one melanoma, one endometrial); four patients developed a malignant neoplasm during combined drug therapy (one colon, one endometrial, one lung, one erythroleukemia); and three died. The absolute risk of malignancy from combined drug therapy is still unclear. We concluded that (1) combined use of remittive agents may have promise in treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis; (2) cyclophosphamide should be replaced with a nonalkylating agent; and (3) the place of combined drug therapy remains uncertain in the absence of controlled trials. (JAMA 1986;255:2315-2319) http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png JAMA American Medical Association

Treatment of Intractable Rheumatoid Arthritis With Combined Cyclophosphamide, Azathioprine, and Hydroxychloroquine

Csuka, MaryEllen; Carrera, Guillermo F.; McCarty, Daniel J.
JAMA , Volume 255 (17) – May 2, 1986
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References (14)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1986 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved. Applicable FARS/DFARS Restrictions Apply to Government Use.
ISSN
0098-7484
eISSN
1538-3598
DOI
10.1001/jama.1986.03370170079039
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, and hydroxychloroquine sulfate were prescribed for 31 patients (26 women and five men) with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to conventional therapy. Maintenance drug dosages (mean ±SD) were as follows: cyclophosphamide, 30±24 mg/day; azathioprine, 74±44 mg/day; and hydroxychloroquine sulfate, 210±92 mg/day. Disease suppression began in 30 patients within three to 24 months (mean, nine months). Results after 43 months (range, 12 to 102 months) were as follows: 16, complete remission; seven, near remission; seven, partial disease suppression; one, no response. None remained in prolonged remission without some form of therapy. Treatment was discontinued in three patients because of pulmonary infection (two) or thrombocytopenia (one). Four patients had five malignant neoplasms (surgical cures) before therapy (two breast, one colon, one melanoma, one endometrial); four patients developed a malignant neoplasm during combined drug therapy (one colon, one endometrial, one lung, one erythroleukemia); and three died. The absolute risk of malignancy from combined drug therapy is still unclear. We concluded that (1) combined use of remittive agents may have promise in treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis; (2) cyclophosphamide should be replaced with a nonalkylating agent; and (3) the place of combined drug therapy remains uncertain in the absence of controlled trials. (JAMA 1986;255:2315-2319)

Journal

JAMA – American Medical Association

Published: May 2, 1986

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