RESUMO
A six month controlled study of 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of scleroderma showed a modest benefit in skin scores, Raynaud's phenomenon, and patients' global assessment. Visceral organ and hand function were unaffected. Mild to moderate toxicity was common in the 5-fluorouracil treated patients but usually responded to dose reduction. Two patients receiving 5-fluorouracil died from causes seemingly unrelated to treatment. Significant clinical improvement in scleroderma was not noted in the first six months of treatment with 5-fluorouracil.
Assuntos
Fluoruracila/uso terapêutico , Escleroderma Sistêmico/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Método Duplo-Cego , Feminino , Fluoruracila/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Masculino , Escleroderma Sistêmico/patologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
This study evaluates the American Rheumatism Association criteria for remission in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using data gathered prospectively in 2 distinct patient groups: Americans (n = 181) and Peruvians (n = 44). The criteria were found to be highly specific in both patient groups but the sensitivity of the criteria was low in the American patients. The criteria most frequently not satisfied in the American patients with RA were subjective. Several explanations are offered: differences in disease severity, problems in using a translated questionnaire, differences in practice level among rheumatologists, but none of them fully explain the lower sensitivity of the criteria among the American patients.