EFFICACY OF COMBINATION THERAPY OF METHOTREXATE WITH HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE OR SULFASALAZINE IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS IN KUMAON REGION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Suyash Bharat,
Post Graduate Junior Resident,
Department of Pharmacology,
Government Medical College,
Haldwani, Rampur-263139,
Uttarakhand.
E-mail: dr.suyash.bharat@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE

To Compare the Efficacy of combination therapy of Methotrexate (MTX) and Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) with MTX and Sulfasalazine (SSZ) in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients of Kumaon region.

METHODS

RA patients of age group in between 18-60 years, a definite rheumatoid arthritis patients based on 2010 ACR/EULAR CRITERIA, presenting to the medicine OPD with Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS 28) Score >3.2 were included in the study, and patients receiving treatment combinations were divided into study groups. In the OPD, HCQ was given at a dosage of 200 mg twice a day, whereas dosage of MTX was 10 to 20 mg/week. The dosage of SSZ was 500 mg to 1000 mg twice a day. The primary end point of the study was based on EULAR DAS 28 response criteria at the end of study period.

RESULTS

The mean values of DAS 28 score show statistical significant decline within the group in every follow-up and during 2^nd and 3^rd follow-ups DAS 28 score between 2 groups shows statistical significant difference. At the end of study period (6 months), the difference between 2 study groups was not statistically significant. According to EULAR RESPONSE CRITERIA, good response was seen in 26 patients from group 1^st and 27 patients from group 2^nd.

CONCLUSION

The efficacy of drug combinations, i.e. MTX plus SSZ and MTX plus HCQ, in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis patients are comparable. Combination of MTX plus SSZ, however, shows rapid decrease in disease activity as compared to combination of MTX plus HCQ.

KEYWORDS

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Methotrexate, Hydroxychloroquine, Sulfasalazine.