Proresid therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. A comparison with injectable gold using life-table analysis.

Abstract

Proresid, mainly consisting of podophyllotoxin derivatives and two glycosides thereof, has been used as a disease-modifying antirheumatic drug in Sweden since the late 1960s. A life-table analysis of Proresid treatment averaging 41 months (range 4-144) in 79 rheumatoid arthritis patients showed a termination rate of 40, 56, 75 and 85% after 1/2, 1, 2 and 4 years, respectively. Dominant reasons for discontinuing therapy were inefficacy (37%) and gastrointestinal symptoms (35%). The risk of discontinuation of therapy due to inefficacy was constant over time, while the risk due to other causes, including side effects, gradually decreased. A comparison with injectable gold therapy showed, after adjusting for confounding factors, that the total termination incidence was higher (p < 0.05) in the Proresid-treated patients. A comparison with the regional cancer register of 334 patients exposed to Proresid for a mean time of 2.2 years showed no increased cancer risk after a mean observation time of 6.1 years.

• Authors: G Bendix, A Bjelle
• Journal: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology (Scand J Rheumatol) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 77-82 ( 1993) ISSN: 0300-9742 [Print] England
• PMID: 8480142 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• mitopodozide
• Gold
• Podophyllin
• Podophyllotoxin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (complications, drug therapy)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Gold (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Injections
• Life Tables
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasms (complications, epidemiology)
• Patient Compliance
• Patient Dropouts
• Podophyllin (adverse effects, analogs & derivatives, therapeutic use)
• Podophyllotoxin (analogs & derivatives)
• Prognosis
• Risk Factors
• Treatment Outcome