Study on combined of auranofin, salazosulfapyridine and methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis who did not respond sufficiently to auranofin therapy were devided into three groups to be continued on auranofin monotherapy (1), to be on combination therapy of auranofin and salazosulfapyridine (2) and to be given methotrexate concomitantly with auranofin (3), and clinical responses were compared in a prospective manner. Patients on combination therapy either with salazosulfapyridine or with methotrexate demonstrated higher improvement than those on continued auranofin monotherapy. No unknown side effects associated with monotherapy of any of the three compounds were seen in any of the three groups. The study suggests usefullness of combination therapy either with methotorexate or with salazosulfapyridine for patients who failed to respond sufficiently to auranofin.