Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of cyclosporine A (CyA) in combination with gold and methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods: Twenty patients with RA with partial response to oral MTX and 20 patients with partial response to im gold had CyA added to their regimen for 6 months, withdrawn over 2 months and the patients monitored for 4 months.
Results: There was a significant improvement in joint count, joint score, joint swelling, grip strength and joint pain in patients taking the combination with no significant increase in adverse reactions.
Conclusion: CyA in combination with gold or MTX may, over a 6 month period, increase efficacy in patients with refractory RA without significant increase in toxicity.