To specify causes of discontinuation of the disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMAD) used in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by the results of special questionnaire survey.
The study included 298 RA patients treated in the Institute of Rheumatology (34 males and 264 females aged 18-82, mean age 54.6%, duration of the disease 1 to 38 years, mean 10.7 years) who responded to questioning.
The following DMAD were used: metotrexate (n = 137), sulfasalasine (n = 49), aminoquinoline drugs (n = 33), chlorbutin (n = 19), azathioprin (n = 13), tauredon (n = 11), cyclophosphamide (n = 5). The drugs were discontinued due to unwanted effects in 50, 10, 46, 9, 4, 3, 3 (methotrexate, sulfasalasin, aminoquinolines, chlorbutin, azathioprin, Ag salts, cyclophosphamide, respectively). Cyclophosphamide and chlorbutin appeared most toxic, while sulfasalasine and aminoquinolines were found least effective.
DMAD discontinuation rate ranges from 12.1% (aminoquinolines) to 60% (cyclophosphamide), mean 31.1%.