Sulphasalazine in psoriatic arthritis: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Sulphasalazine (SASP) is now accepted as an effective slow-acting antirheumatic drug for treating active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but has not been previously evaluated in psoriatic arthritis. An earlier open study suggested that it was well tolerated and potentially beneficial. The present double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 30 patients has now confirmed its efficacy.

Treatment of psoriatic arthritis with sulphasalazine: a one year open study.

Sulphasalazine (SASP) has recently become established as an effective treatment for active rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but has not previously been used in psoriatic arthritis in which remission-inducing drugs have proved disappointing. In this one year open study, 34 patients with active psoriatic arthritis were treated with sulphasalazine. An overall favourable clinical response was observed in 23 patients (67%).

Ischaemic colitis and immune complexes during gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis.

A 35-year-old female with rheumatoid arthritis developed an ischaemic colitis and circulating immune complexes following her fourth injection of sodium aurothiomalate. The immune-complex titres fell rapidly after resolution of the colitis, and a possible association of these immune complexes and the bowel pathology is suggested.

Severe acute polyarthropathy associated with levamisole therapy in a patient with Crohn's disease.

A 17 year old Caucasian youth with intractable Crohn's disease developed a severe, acute polyarthropathy during a second course of levamisole therapy. Rapid resolution of systemic symptoms occurred on stopping the drug but full joint recovery was not achieved until five months had elapsed. The relationship of levamisole to Crohn's disease and the underlying mechanisms of the polyarthropathy are discussed.