Patients with ulcerative colitis in remission were randomly allocated to treatment with sulphasalazine (2 g/day) or oral sodium cromoglycate (160 mg/day or 2 g/day), and the relapse rates in these treatment groups were compared during continued treatment for one year. The percentage cumulative relapse rate after 12 months' treatment was 30% in the 33 patients treated with sulphasalazine compare...

Clostridium difficile has been implicated in the relapse of ulcerative colitis. Controversy exists over this role and its relationship to sulphasalazine exposure. Sixty two of 77 patients with a documented relapse of ulcerative colitis were investigated for the presence of Clostridium difficile, or its toxin, prior to hospitalization. There was a low incidence of detection which was related to ...

and 'lupus like' disease: association with anti-phospholipid antibodies. Leucopenia after gold and sulphasalazine treatment Sir: I read the interesting report by Bliddal and colleagues of three patients who developed leucopenia after both gold and sulphasalazine treatment.' HLA-DR3 as a marker for toxic reactions after treatment with gold or D-penicillamine could not be shown. Patient 1, howeve...

The outcome of attempts to continue treatment indefinitely with either gold, penicillamine, sulphasalazine, or dapsone was studied in 240 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The usual reason for discontinuing treatment was the occurrence of an adverse effect. This led to 53% of patients stopping gold, 33% sulphasalazine, 32% penicillamine, and 17% dapsone. The next most frequent reason was...

We have investigated the influence of sulphasalazine, a second line antirheumatic drug, on the radiological progression of erosions in rheumatoid arthritis over a two year period in 41 patients. Hand radiograph scores deteriorated significantly over this period, but in a group of 31 patients in whom one year films were also available this deterioration was limited to the first year. This slowin...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the trends of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria for RA from 1995 to 2006 and who attended the Rheumatology clinic at Ipoh Hospital were selected and their records were evaluated to determine the changing trends in the use of DMARDs. RESULTS 128 patients wi...

BACKGROUND Evidence for disease modifying activity of low dose corticosteroid treatment in rheumatoid arthritis is contradictory. Studies showing radiological benefit suggest that continued treatment is required to sustain the effect. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of low dose oral prednisolone in early rheumatoid arthritis on disease activity over two years. DESIGN Double blind placebo c...