Long-term cyclophosphamide therapy in rheumatoid arthritis

✍ Scribed by William M. Fosdick; James L. Parsons; Donald F. Hill

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1968
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 594 KB
• Volume: 11
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0004-3591
• DOI: 10.1002/art.1780110205

✦ Synopsis

YTOTOXIC AGENTS have been used for C more than a decade in therapy of rheumatoid However, therapy with these agents has not been widely adopted. It has been restricted, in general, to short intensive courses for acutely ill, hospitalized patients as utilized in cancer chemotherapy.

We have used Cyclophosphamide* (CP) in the treatment of patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis; the drug was given to 38 out-patients for periods ranging from 6 to 40 months. All patients had failed to respond to vigorous conventional treatment before being selected for CP therapy. The results of such treatment form the sub- stance of this report.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patient Selection

Fifty-four patients with definite or classical active rheumatoid arthritis by criteria of the American Rheumatism Association (Stages 11, 111, and IV, and Classes 11, 111, and IV)* were treated daily with CP. Of these, 38 patients received therapy for at Tyclophosphamide ( CytoxanQ) was supplied through the generosity of Mead-Johnson, Evansville, Indiana.