The British Journal of Rheumatology, Vol 36, 530-534, Copyright © 1997 by British Society for Rheumatology
SM Bradley, P le Gallez, PR Throughton, HC Gooi, C Astbury and HA Bird
The production of superoxide by the peripheral blood neutrophils of 19
patients with active rheumatoid arthritis was measured during treatment
with sulphasalazine (SASP). The response to drug treatment was determined
by change in plasma viscosity, CRP, early morning stiffness and articular
index over a 10-point scale. Of the 19 patients studied, eight were
considered to have responded well to SASP and seven to have responded
poorly or not at all. Over the treatment period, plateau levels of
superoxide production fell in seven of the eight responders (P = 0.028)
compared with a non-significant fall in 3/7 of the non- responder groups.
The initial rate of superoxide production also fell in the responder group,
but this was not statistically significant. Initial values in both the
responder and non-responder groups were comparable with those seen for
normal controls. Analysis of drug levels showed all patients to be
compliant with drug treatment; however, drug levels and neutrophil activity
were not correlated. Studies of the effect of SASP and sulphapyridine on
superoxide production in vitro showed no difference between good and poor
responders. These results suggest that there is no inherent difference
between good and poor responders regarding the susceptibility of their
neutrophils to SASP. SASP's action on neutrophils, therefore, appears not
to be its main mechanism of disease-modifying activity in RA.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
The effect of sulphasalazine on neutrophil superoxide generation in rheumatoid arthritis
Clinical Pharmacology Unit (Rheumatism Research), University of Leeds, Chapel Allerton Hospital.
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