[Immunomodulating basic therapy of rheumatoid arthritis using ciamexone].

Abstract

Ciamexone, a 2-cyanoaziridine derivative, had been shown previously in animal studies to inhibit the proliferation of autoreactive lymphocytes dose dependently, without affecting the reaction against foreign antigens. To extend the experimental models of ciamexone's in vitro effects to the clinical level, we performed a pilot study to evaluate the clinical efficacy of ciamexone therapy. We further studied its influence on the systemic inflammatory activity and T-lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of 10 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Following 6 months' treatment with ciamexone all patients showed a significant decrease of both the clinical and biochemical scores. Concerning the T-lymphocyte subsets analysis, a relatively decreased rate of the activated T-lymphocytes was observed concurrently. Minor side effects included rash (n = 1), hepatotoxicity (n = 1) and diarrhea (n = 1). The study thus documents the clinical efficacy of ciamexone in patients with RA, but also indicates the agent's potential toxicity.

• Authors: C Baerwald, K M Goebel, A Krause, J Heymanns
• Journal: Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift (Schweiz Med Wochenschr) Vol. 119 Issue 49 Pg. 1769-71 (Dec 09 1989) ISSN: 0036-7672 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Immunmodulierende Basistherapie der rheumatoiden Arthritis mit Ciamexon.
• PMID: 2533393 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Aziridines
• ciamexon

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (therapeutic use)
• Aged
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (drug therapy)
• Aziridines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Diarrhea (chemically induced)
• Drug Eruptions (etiology)
• Drug Evaluation
• Female
• Humans
• Liver (drug effects)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• T-Lymphocytes (drug effects)