TERMINATION OF DISEASE-MODIFYING DRUGS IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS: STUDY OF 109 COURSES OF TREATMENT.

SUMMARY Our aim is to study the termination of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and the causes of withdrawal. We have reviewed the prospective protocols of patients with PsA and collected the data on treatments and causes of withdrawal. Fifty-four out of 96 patients (48 male and 48 female) have undergone one or more courses of DMARD (n = 109). The life-table analysis shows a survival rate of 6 months for gold sodium thiomalate (GOLD) and sulphasalazine (SSZ), and 16 months for methotrexate (MTX). The Mantel-Haenszel test finds statistical differences between GOLD and MTX. There are no differences between MTX and SSZ or between GOLD and SSZ. The absence of differences for MTX and SSZ could be explained by the heterogeneity of both groups. The most common cause of withdrawal for GOLD and SSZ are adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]