Kombinovaná terapie silně aktivnírevmatoidní artritidy methotrexatema cyklosporinem A

Combined Therapy of HighlyActive Rheumatoid Arthritis with Methotrexate and Cyclosporin

Objective:
The objective of the research project was to evaluate the effect of combined therapy withmethotrexate and cyclosporin A in active rheumatoid arthritis refractory to previous monotherapywith methotrexate, and to evaluate the incidence of undesirable effects of this treatment. Method:The investigated group comprised 37 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who were treated for atleast three months with methotrexate, at least 10 mg/week, with an unsatisfactory effect. Thesepatients were given in addition to the mentioned treatment cyclosporin, initial dose 2.5 mg/kg,gradually increasing up to 5 mg/day. The authors evaluated the trend of some parameters (erythro-cyte sedimentation rate, CRP, articular index, HAQ questionnaire) during six months treatment andinvestigated also the development of possible side effects. After completion of the study a completecheck-up examination after another six months was made and the further development of the diseaseand treatment was described in some patients. Results: In all investigated parameters there wasa significant drop as compared with values at the onset of treatment (p

Key words:
rheumatoid arthritis, DMARDs, cyclosporin A, methotrexate